American  Tales. 


PRIG  J  15  CENTS. 


No.. 2,  Complete. 


The  ^American  News  Company,  New- York,  Publishers'  Agents. 


THE 


BORDER  SPY; 


OB, 


m  BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVi  OF  THE  REBEL  CAMP. 


A  STORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


•"Z-     ILiIETJT.      OOL.      ia:.A.ZEIjTI3Sr  E, 

FOBSCERLT  CAPT.    COMPANY  A,  FBEMOXt's  BODY   GDABD. 


■a  I  «>>  iBii 


NEW-YORK: 

SINCLAIR    TOUSEY,    PUBLISHERS'    AGENT, 

No.    121    Nassau    Street. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the 

Year  1863,  by  Sinclair  Toxjset,  Publisher's  Agent,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District 

Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York, 


THE  BORDER  SPY; 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIYE  OF  THE  REBEL  CAMP. 


CHAPTER  L 

The  Rebel  General  Price — Determination  to  Fight 
— The  Sleeping  Indian — Price  Suspects  him — 
J3e  is  Bound — Surprise — Escape. 

Let  those  who  fear  the  spray  the  torrent  flings 
Retrace  their  stepa — I'll  cross  the  stream,  howe'er 
Its  brawlings  may  dbturb  me. — Mrs.  Hale. 

"By  my  soul,  it  shall  be  done !  Yes,  safety, 
honor,  fame,  fortune,  all  require  it ! " 

It  was  a  wild  spot.  The  towering  rocks 
reached  to  the  height  of  several  hundred  feet 
above  the  valley  below,  where  rolled  the  rapid 
waters  of  the  Osage.  Upon  one  of  these  jut- 
ting turrets,  stood  the  speaker.  His  large 
form  rose  above  the  mountain  oaks,  standing 
as  he  was  upon  its  most  elevated  point.  But 
a  close  observer  could  not  fail  to  notice  that 
he  was  ill  at  ease.  His  eyes  were  restless,  and 
as  they  wandered  from  mountain  crag  to  the 
valley  below,  and  thence  to  the  far-reaching 
prairie  in  the  distance,  his  frame  trembled,  and 
his  fingers  convulsively  clutched  his  long  iron- 
gray  locks,  as  they  were  streaming  in  the  morn- 
ing wind. 

There  was  nothing  remarkable  in  his  dress, 
except  that  at  such  a  time  and  place  he  should 
havef  worn  an  elegant  sword,  which  could  be 
seen  beneath  a  large,  dark  cloak,  thrown  care- 
lessly over  his  shoulders.  In  other  respects 
he  was  without  uniform,  or  any  mark  indica- 
ting the  military  chieftain. 

After  gazing  for  some  time  upon  the  sur- 
rounding country,  he  again  spoke: 

"  Yes,  by  heavens,  it  is  a  land  worth  fight- 
ing for,  and  I  will — " 

The  speaker  paused,  and  turning,  beheld 
the  approach  of  the  person  who  had  interrupt- 
ed his  soliloquy.  A  frown  covered  his  face  as 
he  asked  : 

"  What  do  you  want,  Johnson  ?" 

The  answer  came,  rough  and  fiercely. 

"Want?  revenge!" 

'  On  whom  ?"  asked  the  first  speaker,  as  he 
grasped  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

"Not  on  you.  General  Price;  so  don't  fear." 

"Fear!"  echoed  Price,  '  I  fear  no  man — 
nothing. " 

"  Then  why  do  you  clutch  your  sword  as  I 
approach  ?" 


"Because  I  believe  you  are  treacherous," 
replied  Price. 

"  Treacherous !  ha !  ha !  ha !  Can  I  be  else, 
and  serve  you  ?" 

"But  are  you  faithful  to  me  and  my  cause?" 

"Your  cause!"  echoed  Johnson.  "Whyi 
thought  it  was  your  country's  cause ! " 

"My  coTintry's  cause  is  mine,"  replied 
Price.  "Again  I  ask  you,  are  you  faithful  to 
me?" 

"Yes!" 

"What  assurance  have  I  that  you  will  be 
faithful?" 

Johnson  bowed  his  head,  and  did  not  reply. 

"Answer  me,"  said  Price,  stemly  and  sus- 
piciously. 

"General  Price,"  replied  Johnson,  as  he 
raised  his  head,  and  fixed  his  piercing  eyes 
upon  his  questioner,  "General  Pripe,  I  am 
poor.  If  I  were  or  had  been  a  servant  in 
heaven,  and  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  in- 
fernal regions  had  ofi'ered  me  a  position  on  his 
staff,  to  escape  servitude,  and  for  promotion's 
sake,  not  knowing  lihn  or  his  service,  I  might 
have  accepted.  In  doing  so,  I  should  have 
lost  heaven,  and  in  no  case  could  have  return- 
ed. Thus,  as  I  would  have  no  choice,  I  prob- 
ably should  serve  faithfully  in  my  new  capa- 
city, for  policy's  sake,  even  if  I  was  deceived 
by  the  devil's  promises.  In  much  this  way  do 
I  stand  toward  you.  General  Price ! " 

"  I  have  not  deceived  you !" 

"You  have  !  You  have  lied  to  me  !" 

"Johnson!"  yelled  Price,  as  his  sword  flash- 
ed in  the  morning  light,  ' '  no  man  shall  address 
me  thus,  and  live  ! " 

"  Hold,  General  Price,"  said  Johnson,  as  he 
levelled  his  rifle  at  his  breast,  "you  had  bet- 
ter spare  those  who  must  serve  you,  as  few  are 
willing!" 

"Curse  him !"  muttered  Price.  "But  for 
policy's  sake  I  must  restrain  myself.  He  shall 
act  the  spy  this  once — it  is  necessary— or  I 
would  dasn  him  from  this  rock  into  the  depths 
below."  "Johnson,"  he  added,  speaking 
aloud,  "you  must  not  speak  thus.  Itig  true 
I  have  as  yet  been  imable  to  fulfil  my  promi- 
ses ;  but  consider.  We  are  here  facing  a 
powerful  army — an  army  of  fanatics — of  devo- 
tees— who  will  fight  to  the  death,  while  many 
of  my  soldiers  are  discontented,  and  if  they 
fight  at  all,  I  fear  will  do  it  unsuccessfully.    I 


THE  BOEDER  SPY ;  OR  THE 


have  no  confidence  in  many  of  my  men,  "Why 
Ib  this,  Johnson  ?" 

"  I  can  ansAver,  but  for  one.' 

"  Then  answer  for  yourself!" 

"I  will,  I  have  no  confidence  in  you." 

"  You  will  serve  me,  nevertheless?" 

"  Yes — I  am  forced  to  do  so !" 

"How  forced — by  whom  forced?" 

"Not  by  you,  General  Price,  but  by  myself." 

"Don't  you  see  much  to  fight  for?  Look 
around  you.  Graze  upon  the  face  of  this  beau- 
tiful country.  Our  enemies  come  to  rob  us  of 
it.  Shall  we,  like  dogs,  submit  ?  No !  by  the 
Eternal,  I  will  not ! "  cried  Price,  his  powerful 
frame  quivering  with  emotion. 

"I  see  but  little  beauty  here.     Where  is  it?" 

"  All  around — on  every  side !" 

"I  see  but  one  bright  spot,  and  that  is — " 

Johnson  gazed  into  the  valley  below.  His 
look  was  earnest.  As  he  gazed,  the  tear-drops 
started  to  his  eyes,  and  he  bent  his  head  upon 
his  hands,  while  his  breast  heaved  convulsive- 
ly.    He  was  deeply  moved. 

"Johnson,  why  are  you  weeping?"  asked 
Price,  as  he  regarded  bim  with  a  look  of 
surprise. 

' '  Am  I  weeping  ?"  returned  Johnson,  raising 
his  head. 

"Yes;  some  sad  recollection  of  the  past 
oppresses  you ! " 

' '  Of  the  past  ?  Yes,  of  the  past,  as  well  as 
the  present,  and  of  the  future !  But  tell  me 
what  you  see  here,  that  you  should  love  this 
country  so  much.  It  is  not  from  associations  ?" 

"No,  only  its  beauty ! " 

"Its  beau  tj'?  I  cannot  see  it !   "Where  is  it?" 

"  Shall  I  describe  what  I  see  ?" 

"Yes,  sir  ;  I  am  interested  to  know  what  you 
ean  call  beautiful. " 

"I  will.  I  am  standing  here,  upon  a  lofty 
mountain  turret.  Below  is  the  Osage.  Gaze 
upon  it.  Is  it  not  majestical  ?  Y^'onder  it  rolls, 
along  the  mountain's  base,  now  leaping,  i-ush- 
ing  onward,  Uke  a  giant  army  charging  a 
deadly  foe,  lashing  its  banks  as  if  it  longed  to 
break  from  its  restraint,  and  charge  the  world. 
And  there  it  strikes  the  mountain's  side,  and 
for  a  moment  falters.  It  will  ti:m  aside  de- 
feated! "W^illit?  No!  It  is  no  coward,  and 
the  mountain  yields — the  mountain  falls — the 
Osage  breaks  the  barrier,  and  rushes  on.  And 
now,  all  conscious  of  iis  victoiy,  it  pauses  for 
awhile,  or  gliding  gently  onward  murmurs  its 
own  song  of  gloiy.  And  listen  to  the  strain. 
How  it  rises  on  the  aii%  and  is  borne  from  crag 
to  crag,  along  the  lofty  summits  to  tell  that 
grand  array  of  its  own  defeat.  Look  at  that 
mountain  column  formed  in  battle  line.  It 
appears  impregnable.  But  its  ranks  are  bro- 
ken, and  its  power  defied.  That  gap  is  w^here 
the  charge  was  made — that  gap  teUs  the  sto- 
ry— its  line  was  broken,  and  defeat  foUowed. 
The  river  was  victorious ! " 

"  Good!"  echoed  Johnson.  ""What  more 
do  you  see  ?" 

"Moimtains  and  hills  where  we  can  defy 
the  world.     And  yonder  is  my  own  camp. " 

"Yes,  your  camp,  containing  seventy  thou- 
sand true  and  tried  soldiers.  Those  who  have 
shared  your  victories  vrith.  you.  Seventy  thou- 
sand soldiers !  ha!  ha!  ha!" 

"Johnson,  I  do  not  like  your  sarcasm.  Bet- 


ter the  enemy  should  over-estimate  our  num- 
bers.    It  will  intimidate  them. " 

' '  Intimidate !     Whom  ?" 

"Why,  not  only  the  soldiers  of  the  army, 
but  their  generals ! " 

' '  Asboth  ?" 

"Yes!" 

"Sturgis?" 

"Yes!" 

"Hunter?" 

"Yes!" 

"Sigel  and  Fremont?" 

"Yes  ;  even  Sigel  and  Fremont  can  be  in- 
timidated." 

"Perhaps — ^by  an  earthquake,  but  not  by 
you.  General  Price.  Asboth  is  a  soldier,  and 
does  not  know  the  meaning  of  the  word  fear. 
Sturgis — you  have  met  him  once — do  you  wish 
to  meet  him  again  ?  Hunter — there  Ls  light- 
ning in  his  eyes  ;  if  he  does  not  fight,  it  will 
be  for  want  of  a  foe.  Sigel — do  you  remem- 
ber Wilson's  Creek?" 

"But  of  Fremont^^what  of  him?" 

"  He  will  meet  you  here,  if  you  dare  remain  ; 
and  his  soldiers  will  come  with  him." 

"  WcU,  it  may  be  so.  Their  army  is  now  at 
Warsaw.  They  must  be  detained  for  some 
days  yet  They  are  constructing  a  bridge  at 
that  point  across  the  Osage,  and  you  will  have 
sufficient  time  to  visit  their  camps,  and  return 
before  they  advance.  If  it  should  be  advisa- 
ble to  move,  vou  can  apprize  us  in  time." 

"  "When  shall  I  start  V" 

"  Now." 

"Well,  j'our  instructions." 

"Johnson,  I  confess  I  fear  to  meet  that 
man  Fremont.  And  yet  I  hate  him  with  a  bit- 
terness which  poisons  all  my  joys.  Tell  him 
we  nmnber  seventy-five  thousand  fighting 
men,  well  armed  and  disciplined.  That  we 
are  strongly  fortified,  and  for  them  to  ad- 
vance would  be  certain  death.  Tell  him  it  ia 
a  mistake  that  my  soldiers  are  discontented, 
but  -n-iU  all  fight  to  the  last  Will  you  teU  him 
this?" 

"I  will." 

' '  Your  safety  may  depend  upon  it,  for  I  tciS 
fight  if  I  am  compelled  to-face  him  vdUi  a  sin- 
gle regiment.  Last  night  I  held  a  council 
with  my  officers,  and  we  resolved  to  make  a 
stand  here.  To  retreat  farther  will  be  to  bring 
shame  upon  us,  and  to  stamp  us  as  cowards. 
And  I  beheve  there  is  not  a  dozen  men  in  my 
army  who  would  not  die  before  they  would  be 
branded  as  cowardly.  I  rely  upon  tiieir  pride, 
rather  than  their  loyalty. " 

"That  must  be  your  appeal  Shall  I  go 
now  ?" 

"Yes!  Stay,  Johnson  ;  return  by  to-mor- 
row night  and  tell  me  Fremont  is  dead,  and 
j'ou  shall  be  richly  rewarded.  Tell  me  Sigel 
is  olso  dead,  and  you  shall  have  command  of 
the  second  regiment " 

"  Sigel  and  Fremont  shall  die  !" 

"  You  swear  it?" 

"  Yes,  I  swear  they  shall  die,  when — " 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  sentence 
was  inaudible. 

"Ugh!" 

Startled,  Price  turned  to  behold,  at  the  base 
of  the  rock  upon  which  he  was  standing,  an 
Indian,  who  was,  apparently,  fast  asleej^ 


OBI 


'   \ 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAJMP. 


"Do  you  know  tliat  red  devil?"  asked  Price, 
turning  to  Johnson. 

"  Let  ma  see." 

Johnson  bent  over  the  edge  of  the  rock,  and 
for  some  time  remained  silent.  At  last  he 
said  : 

"  'Tis  Red-wing,  as  he  is  called  by  the  peo- 
ple hereabouts  ;  one  of  the  Osage  tribe,  I  be- 
lieve. But  you  will  find  little  good  in  him,  al- 
though he  might  be  made  serviceable,  if  you 
could  keep  whiskey  from  him. " 

"  Eed-\ring,"  shouted  Price. 

"Ugh!"  », 

"  You  red  devil,  get  up  and  show  your  col- 
ors, or  I  will  send  a  bullet  through  your 
head ! "  exclaimed  Johnson. 

There  was  no  reply.  Johnson  raised  his  rifle, 
but  the  Lidian  had  risen,  and  fixing  a  glance 
of  hatred  upon  Johnson,  he  said  : 

"  Give  Indian  whiskey — me  fight  for  you — 
me  kill  for  you — give  Indian  whiskey. " 

Price  leaped  from  the  rock,  and  motioned 
them  to  follow.  In  a  few  moments  he  reached 
camp,  closely  followed  by  Johnson  and  the 
Indian. 

The  appearance  of  the-  rebel  camp  was  some- 
what singular. 

Around  the  camp-fires  were  crowds  of  list- 
less men  and  boys,  who  watched  the  approach 
of  their  commander  with  calm  indifference. 
He  passed  on  in  silence,  occasionally  return- 
ing the  salute  of  his  officers,  but  did  not  pause 
until  he  reached  a  tent  located  upon  a  high 
bluff,  and  almost  concealed  from  view  by  a 
thick  growth  of  oaks.  Ai'ound  this  tent  were 
others,  less  grand  in  appearance,  which  were 
occupied  by  the  leaders  of  his  army.  Stretch- 
ing for  some  distance  below,  was  an  open  field, 
over  which  were  scattered  rude  tents,  of  a  great 
vaiiety  in  fonn  and  appearance.  Bed  blankets, 
worn  and  various  in  their  colors,  were  stretch- 
ed across  poles,  at  either  eoid  of  which  was 
jilaced  a  supporting  stake,  cut  from  the  sur- 
rounding branches.     All  looked  comfortless. 

Mingled  ^vith  these  were  seen  rows  of  small 
canvas  tents,  giving  the  encampment  more  of 
a  warlike  aspect.  The  arms  were  also  va- 
ried in  their  patterns.  Some  of  them  bore  the 
appearance  of  the  regular  United  States  army 
rifle,  while  others  were  the  ordinary  hunting 
rifle  or  shot  gun.  Occasionally  were  to  be 
seen  soldiers  in  uniform,  but  in  most  instances 
the  rough  blue  home-spun  was  worn. 

As  the  Indian  passed  through  the  camp,  his 
eyes  wandered  carelessly  over  the  scene.  "\Mien 
Price  reached  his  tent,  an  orderly  arose  to  re- 
ceive him,  and  the  general  said  : 

"  Send  a  corporal  and  ten  men  to  my  tent." 

Then  tm-ning  to  Johnson,  he  added  : 

' '  You  are  kno-wn,  and  will  require  no  escort 
beyond  our  lines.  I  shall  question  this  Indian 
closely,  and  perhaps  use  him.     Go ! " 

"Yes,  general,"  replied  Johnson,  and  turn- 
ing he  departed. 

By  this  time  a  large  number  of  officers  had 
g:ithered  near  the  tent  of  Price,  and  silently 
awaited  the  examination  of  the  Indian,  who 
they  c'S'idently  supposed  to  be  a  spy  from  the 
Union  army.  Unconscious  of  theu*  presence, 
or  at  least  appearing  to  be  so,  the  Indian  stood 
with  folded  arms  before  the  tent  of  the  rebel 
gcneraL 


In  a  few  moments  Price  appeared,  pausing 
diiectly  before  the  Indian.  Theii-  eyes  met, 
and  for  some  time  they  regarded  each  other  in 
silence.     At  length  Price  asked  : 

"What  is  yom*  name  ?" 

"  Me  Indian — brave !" 

"  You  are  an  Indian  chief!" 

"  Me  no  chief!" 

."  Do  you  know  me  ?  I  am  chief  here.  Look 
around  you — behold  my  waniors.  They  are 
all  brave.  They  will  conquer  the  enemy.  If 
you  will  bring  your  warriors  and  fight  with 
me,  yom-  hiuiting  grounds  will  be  safe,  and 
your  fathers'  graves  sacred.  K  these  invading 
robbers  should  conquer  us,  you  \viU  lose  your 
grounds  ;  the  graves  of  your  sires  will  be  pol- 
luted by  their  unholy  touch,  and  you  and  your 
people  made  slaves  !  Will  you  fight  ■nith 
us?" 

"Ugh!" 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?"  asked  Price. 

"Me  ask  chief." 

"  ^Vhat  is  your  name  ?" 

"Red-wing." 

"  To  what  tribe  do  you  belong  ?" 

"  Osage." 

"  Red-wing,  don't  attempt  to  deceive  me.  I 
can  read  your  very  thoughts ! " 

' '  Co  wwewunk ! " 

"Yes,  I  know  you.  You  are  a  spy,  and 
direct  from  the  federal  camp.  You  pretended 
sleep  as  you  were  lying  at  the  foot  of  yonder 
rock,  that  you  might  hear  all  my  conversation 
and  report  it.  You  have  heard  too  much.  Are 
there  any  here  who  have  seen  this  fellow  be- 
fore ?"  asked  Price,  turning  to  his  soldiers. 

"I  have  seen  him,  and  know  him,"  replied 
one  of  the  men,  stepping  forwai'd.  "He  is 
called  Fall-leaf,  and  is  chief  of  the  Delaware 
tribe. 

The  Indian  sprang  forward,  and  in  an  in- 
stant had  broken  through  the  crowd  which  en- 
circled him,  and  with  the  speed  of  a  deer, 
dashed  toward  th«  distant  cliffs. 

"Fire  upon  him ! "  shrieked  Price. 

A  hundred  rifles  were  raised,  but  the  Indi- 
an was  darting  among  the  tents  in  such  a 
manner,  that  no  opportunity  for  accurate  aim 
could  be  had. 

"Curses  on  it,  he  will  escape!"  yeUed  Price. 
"Here  Barclay,  Rains,  all  of  you,  mount  and 
follow.  I  must  have  that  red  devil,  dead  or 
aUve.  If  he  escapes,  he  will  bear  important 
information  to  Fremont. " 

Price  sprang  into  his  saddle  and  dashed  for- 
ward in  pui-suit.  He  was  soon  followed  by  a 
score  of  others. 

"By  heavens,  they  have  seized  him!"  cried 
Price,  as  he  approached  the  outer  lines  of  the 
camp,  where  stood  the  guard  tent. 

So  it  was.  Just  as  Fall-leaf  reached  a  nar- 
row defile  vrhich  led  along  the  mountain's  side 
and  do-wTi  to  the  river  below,  the  detail  ordered 
by  Price  as  a  jDretended  escort,  were  starting 
for  headquarters.  They  met  the  Indian  face 
to  face,  and  comprehending  the  state  of  affau's, 
the  corporal  ordered, 

"Seize  him!" 

A  large  knife  flashed  in  the  sunlight,  which 
the  Indian  suddenly  drew  from  concealment, 
and,  as  two  of  the  guard  sprang  forward,  it 
fell  with  crushing  weight  u])on  the  brain  of 


6 


THE  BOEDER  SPY  :  OR  THE 


eaclu     A  third  and  a  fourth  shared  the  same 
fate. 

But,  at  this  instant  one  of  the  guard  levelled 
a  terrible  blow  at  the  head  of  the  Indian,  with 
the  but  of  his  musket 

Fall-leaf,  staggering  back,  fell  to  the  earth. 
Half  a  dozen  bayonets  were  instantly  pointed 
at  his  heart,  but,  as  Price  approached  tiie  spot 
at  this  moment,  he  cried  : 

"Alive  !  aUve !  tike  him  alive !  I  will  ques- 
tion him  first — then  torture  him ! 

In  an  instant  the  Indian  was  bound  and 
helpless. 

Price,  as  he  rode  up,  foUowed  by  his  aids, 
ordered  Fall-leaf  to  arise.  The  Indian  was 
only  partially  stunned  by  the  blow,  and  obey- 
ing the  summons,  he  stood  erect. 

"Now,  dog!"  said  Price,  "you  shall  con- 
fess. " 

"Me  no  confess  !"  answered  Fall-leat 

Price  stamped  his  foot  from  very  rage. 
Turning  to  the  guard  he  said  : 

"Throw  that  hell-hoimd  upon  the  fire  be- 
tween those  burning  logs ! " 

The  Indian  glanced  at  the  burning  mass, 
and  then  upon  the  objects  by  which  he  was. 
surrounded.  The  guard  were  about  to  seize 
him,  when,  turning  to  Price,  he  said  : 

"MeteUnll!" 

"You  will  tell  me  all  you  know  of  the  fed- 
eral army,  and  of  your  own  plane?"  asked 
Price. 

"Yes!  Me  hate  you.  Me  fight  you.  You 
steal  pale-face — Alibamo — " 

Price  started,  turning  pale  as  death,  as  he 
shrieked  : 

"  Pitch  him  into  the  fire  this  instant !" 

The  guard  seized  the  Indian,  and  were  about 
to  put  the  order  into  execution,  when  a  man 
bearing  the  appearance  of  a  rough  mountain- 
eer, sprang  forward. 

"Hold  on  a  bit,  general!"  were  his  delib- 
erately uttered  words. 

Then,  with  the  most  perfect  coolness,  he 
drew  his  knife  and  severed  the  cords  which 
bound  the  wrists  of  Fall-leaf. 

"And  who  are  you?"  asked  Price  in  sur- 
prise. 

"Your  best  friend,  of  course,  general," 
vr&a  the  laconic  reply. 

"I  doubt  it!" 

"Then  you  believe  I  lie,  do  you?" 

"Yes!" 

""Well,  I  will  not  lie  then.  I  am  your  en- 
emy. The  reason  I  called  myself  your  friend 
was,  because  I  intended  to  give  you  good  ad- 
vice!" 

"  Indeed!     And  what  is  this  good  advice  ?" 

"WTiy,  general,  that  you  are  too  far  from 
the  main  body  of  your  troops  with  so  small 
an  escort.     Yon  had  better  return !" 

' '  What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Price,  alarmed. 

"I'll  show  you,"  was  the  reply.  "Here, 
boys  ;  come  on,  qviick, "  he  shouted,  turning 
toward  the  dense  thicket  from  which  he  had 
emerged. 

"We  are  surprised !  Fallback!"  shrieked 
Price,  as  he  wheeled  his  horse. 

The  guard  had  not  waited  for  this  command, 
but  were  already  rapidly  retreating  toward 
the  main  camp,  followed  by  the  aids  of  Price. 

The  Indian  and  his  rescuer  had  already 


mounted  a  cliff  ■vvhich  overlooked  the  entira 
ground,  and  turning  he  cried  : 

"Look  how  the  cowards  run!  Ha!  hal 
ha!" 

Price  heard  the  words,  and  the  laugh  of  de- 
rision.  He  commanded  a  halt  and  exclaimed  : 

"It  was  but  a  ruse!  No  troops  excepting 
our  own  are  near  us.  Follow  me — we  can  yet 
overtike  them.  There  is  but  one  path  load- 
ing down  the  mountiin,  and  one  along  the 
ridge.  Take  the  lower  one.  Rains,  with  forty 
men.  I  wiU  tike  the  upper  path,  and  thus 
we  will  cut  them  ofi". " 

The  orcfer  was  at  once  executed,  and  the 
different  detachments  galloped  along  each 
moimtiin  road. 

' '  There  they  are ! "  cried  Price,  as  he  reach- 
ed the  highest  mountain  point,  about  four 
miles  from  his  camp.  "There  is  a  path  to 
the  right  of  that  ledge,  which  leads  to  the  val- 
ley. Quick— intercept  them.  They  are  ma- 
king for  that  spot " 

The  whole  pai-ty  dashed  forward,  but  were 
just  in  time  to  see  the  rescuer  of  Full-leaf 
spring  from  the  rock  and  commence  his  rapid 
descent  down  the  rugged  pathway.  A  volley 
was  fired  after  him,  but  -w-ithout  effect 

"  But  where  is  that  red-skin?"  asked  Price. 
' '  He  is  not  with  that  fellow,  and  I  saw  him 
standing  upon  that  rock  but  a  moment  since. " 

"  He  may  be  concealed  in  some  of  the  crev- 
ices in  the  ledge,"  replied  one  of  the  party. 

Search  was  instantly  made.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments one  of  the  aids  cried  : 

"  He  is  here  !  surround  the  rock — he  cannot 
escape ! " 

Near  the  summit  of  the  cliff  there  was  a 
large  oak  tree,  which  at  one  time  had  been 
standing  erect,  but  from  lack  of  soil  to  secure 
its  roots,  had  gradually  settled  down  until  its 
tops  were  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  bdow  its 
roots.  It  hung  over  a  frightful  precipice  of 
over  one  hundred  feet.  Directly  below  grew 
a  large  tree,  whose  tops  reached  within  fifteen 
or  twenty  feet  of  the  declined  oak's  branches. 

The  Indian  finding  himself  thus  surrounded, 
did  not  hesitate  an  instant.  On  one  side  was 
the  precipice — on  all  other  sides,  the  infuiia- 
ted  soldiery,  thirsting  for  his  blood. 

Quick  -as  thought  he  sprang  for  the  oak. 
Down  its  body  and  branches  he  ran,  like  a 
squirrel  skipping  from  twig  to  twig. 

' '  Fire ! "  shouted  Price. 

"  Our  pieces  have  all  been  discharged  at  tha 
other  spy.     We  must  load. " 

' '  Well,  quick — quick,  or  he  will  escape. 
By  heavens,  look ! " 

The  Indian  had  reached  the  extreme  branches 
of  the  declining  oak.  He  paused  an  instant, 
and  then  sprang  for  the  tree  below. 

It  was  a  fearful  leap.  But  he  succeeded  in 
grasping  one  of  the  topmost  branches.  His 
weight  bent  the  frail  Umb,  and  before  he  could 
grasp  another,  it  had  broken,  and  his  form 
went  whirling  tlirough  the  air.  But  his  form 
was  checked  by  striking  one  of  tho  main 
limbs,  and  with  an  effort  he  secured  a  firmer 
hold.  In  an  instant  he  had  reached  the  body 
of  the  tree,  and  was  safe. 

As  he  reached  the  base  of  the  ledge,  ha 
turned  and  cried  : 

"Price — me  meet  you  again!" 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAMP. 


CHAPTER  n. 

The  Meeting — The  tale  of  Wrorig  and  Mood — 
The  Avenger — The  Oath — The  Mountain  Maid 
— The  Lover. 

Oh,  I  eould  play  the  woman  with  mine  eyes,  and  braggart 
with  my  toupue. 

But  gentle  heaven,  cutshort  all  intermission, 

Front  to  front  bring  thou  this  fiend  of  Scotland  and  my- 
self, 

Tfithin  my  sword's  length  set  him  ;  if  ha  'scape. 

Heaven  forgire  him  too. — Shakespeare. 

"When  Fall-leaf  reached  the  ground  he  start- 
ed for  the  river,  pursuing  his  way  cautiously, 
but  rapidly.  Ever  and  anon  he  would  pause 
and  listen.  It  was  evident  he  was  pursued  by 
tha  party  from  whom  he  had  just  escaped,  but, 
as  he  passed  along,  their  shouts  were  received 
only  by  a  scornful  curl  of  his  bronze  lip. 

But  he  soon  found  more  difficult  objects 
with  which  to  contend.  As  he  emerged  into 
an  open  space,  he  came  suddenly  upon  the 
party  under  the  command  of  Rains.  He  was 
not  at  once  discovered.  Bending  to  the 
earth,  he  crept  cautiously  along,  concealing 
himseK  as  best  he  could,  by  the  under  brush 
and  taU  grass.  But  he  was  not  long  to  remain 
undiscovered.  One  of  the  rebel  party,  having 
espied  the  object  of  their  pursuit,  raised  his 
rifle,  and  as  its  report  rang  through  the  forest, 
it  was  answered  by  a  sharp  cry  of  the  Indian, 
who  sprang  into  the  air,  and  fell  backward. 

In  an  instant  he  was  surrounded.  Upon  ex- 
amination it  was  found  that  the  bullet  had 
penetrated  his  breast,  rendering  a  dangerous, 
if  not  fatal  wound,  from  which  the  blood  was 
flowing  profusely.  He  was  quite  conscious, 
but  unable  to  move  or  speak. 

"  Shall  I  send  a  bullet  through  his  brain  ?" 
asked  one  of  the  rebel  band. 

"It  is  unnecessary.  That  ugly  wound  in 
the  breast  will  soon  end  him.  But  stay.  His 
tribe  must  not  know  of  his  death.  Throw  him 
into  that  hole  by  yonder  rock,  then  fill  it  up 
with  stone  and  dirt." 

The  form  of  Fall-leaf  was  taken  from  the 
ground,  and  cast  with  violence  into  a  cavern, 
or  "sink-hole,"  about  twenty  feet  in  depth, 
large  enough  at  its  bottom  to  contain  the  bod- 
ies of  a  dozen  men,  but,  unlike  the  majority  of 
such  old  water-escapes  to  caverns  in  the  bowels 
of  the  earth,  the  mouth  of  this  hole  was  so 
small  that  it  was  quite  difficult  for  the  passage 
of  a  single  form.  As  soon  as  this  was  done, 
the  party  proceeded  to  fill  the  entrance  with 
rock  and  rubbish. 

"  It  is  done.  He  wiU  trouble  us  no  more !" 
said  Rains. 

"  He  is  buried  ahve  !" 

"Yes,  but  no  matter.  "Let  ns  return  to 
camp!" 

The  rescuer  of  Fall-leaf,  after  his  escape, 
pushed  rapidly  forward  to  the  river  bank. 
Here  he  paused  for  a  moment  and  listened. 
No  soimd  was  heard.  He  placed  his  ear  to 
the  ground- 

"  They  are  no  longer  in  pursuit,  but  are  re- 
turning to  camp,"  he  muttered,  after  a  pause. 
Then  he  drew  a  small  whistle  from  hiAocket, 
and  Bounded  a  shrill  note.  There  was  no  re- 
ply, and  he  repeated  the  caU.  Still  there  was 
no  answer. 


f  "  Has  he  been  seized  by  those  ruffians?  If 
so,  I  must  return  to  his  rescue.  But,  stay.  I 
heard  the  report  of  a  rifle,  and  then  a  sharp 
cry.  He  may  have  met  some  of  the  soldiers, 
and  suffered  at  their  hands.  At  all  events,  it 
will  be  useless  now  for  me  to  go  again  to 
camp,  as  the  guard  will  be  doubly  vigilant.  I 
will  return  to  the  cabin,  and  if  Fall-leaf  does 
not  appear  by  nightfall,  I  wiU  then  go  in 
search  of  him.  Perhaps  Johnson  will  accom- 
pany me. " 

He  plunged  into  the  river,  and  soon  reached 
the  other  side.  Onward  he  went,  up  the  moun- 
tain, not  pausing  for  a  moment,  sho'ning  him- 
self perfectly  familiar  with  the  locality.  At 
length  he  emerged  into  an  open  space,  near 
the  summit  of  the  ridge  he  had  been  travers- 
ing, at  the  opposite  side  of  which  appeared  a 
rude  log  cabin.  He  sprang  forward  with  a 
smile  as  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  dwelling,  but 
as  he  came  nearer  the  smile  faded,  and  a  look 
of  wonder,  or  painful  anxiety,  became  fixed 
upon  his  face.  At  length  he  paused  and  ex- 
claimed : 

"What  means  aU  this?  How  I  tremble! 
WTiat  forebodings  flash  across  my  brain !  If 
harm  has  cpme  to  them,  I  shall  go  mad,  mad ! 
Oh !  my  father— my  dear  sister,  why  are  you  not 
upon  the  threshold  to  welcome  my  return? 
No  answer !  All  is  silent  there — and  all  is  des- 
olation, too.  The  creeping  vines  are  torn 
away — the  flowers  choked  with  weeds — the 
beauty  of  the  place  departed — she  is  not  there, 
else  it  worJd  not  be  so !  And  I  am  doomed 
to — I  must  be  satisfied  first.  Ahbamo !  Sis- 
ter! Alibamo!"  His  voice  rang  out  with 
startUng  clearness. 

' '  Who  calls !     WiUiam  I     Brother ! " 

"  Johnson — my  best  friend — oh !  ycm  are  yet 
li-ving ! "  cried  William,  as  he  sprang  into  the 
arms  of  Johnson,  who  had  appeared  in  the 
cabin  door. 

"  Yes,  friend,  you  are  living  ;  but  where  is 

my  fa oh !  I  fear  to  ask — I  am  a  coward, 

Johnson!" 

"You  observe  a  change  here,  I  suppose?" 
asked  Johnson. 

"Yes !  But  tell  me  why  this  change  ?  I  can 
bear  it  now ! " 

"First  let  me  hear  of  yourself,  WiUiam, 
and  then  I  will  answer  you.  Where  have  vou 
been  detained  so  long  ?" 

"  I  cannot  answer  until  you  have  told  me  of 
my  father  and  my  sister.     Are  they  alive  ?" 

"I  hope  so!" 

"You  hope  so !  Oh !  Johnson,  my  heart  will 
burst  with  this  suspense.  Think  for  a  mo- 
ment. I  have  been  a  prisoner  now  nearly 
three  months.  At  th§  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek 
I  was  taken  by  the  enemy,'  having  been  left 
wounded  upon  the  field.  I  suffered — oh !  how 
terribly !  I  suffered  from  bodily  pain — from 
hunger — my  heart  wrung  by  the  taunts  and 
insults  heaped  upon  me  by  the  WTetches  who 
held  me  in  their  power.  I  often  felt  death 
would  be  a  great  relief,  but  hx)pe — the  bright 
star  of  hope  rose  high  above  the  dark  cloud 
which  surrounded  me,  and  I  lived  on.  Wbat 
was  that  hope,  Johnson  ?  It  was  of  home ! 
Father !  Sister !  I  dreamed  of  Liberty,  even 
in  my  dungeon's  depths — and  on  the  grimmy 
walls  I  traced  the  flowers  and  vines  my  sister 


•PHE  BOKDIDJ  SPY  ;   OR  TEE 


reared.  The  night  -winds  ■wMstied  through 
my  casements,  and  I  heard  my  sister's  voice — 
her  song  so  sweet  and  thrilling.  K  dreaming 
thns,  I  -woke  to  sadness,  my  father's  voice 
would  speak  to  me,  bidding  me  be  firm  and 
hope.  At  last  the  news  reached  me,  even 
in  my  cell  at  Springfield,  that  Fremont  was 
coming.  My  wounds  were  healed,  and  I  re- 
solved to  escape.  Oh !  how  I  longed  for  free- 
dom. And  why?  Fii-st,  that  I  might  once 
more  clasp  my  father  and  my  sister  in  my 
arms,  and  then  join  Fremont.  I  watched  for 
opportunity,  and  soon  it  came.  I  escaped  at 
night,  by  the  assistance  of  Fall-leaf,  an  In- 
dian chief.  I  started  at  once  for  home.  I 
was  crossing  the  moimtain  this  morning,  when 
suddenly  I  came  upon  the  outposts  of  Price. 
I  saw  my  deliverer  a  prisoner,  and  bound.  I 
did  not  hesitate,  and  by  a  stratagem,  released 
him.     The  trick  was  discovered  and  we  were 

fm-sued.  I  became  separated  from  Fall-leaf, 
should  have  returned  in  search  of  him,  but  I 
could  not.  In  the  distance  I  could  see  my 
home,  never  before  so  loved-  I  felt  that  dear 
ones  wete  waiting  my  approach,  and  I  hastened 
onward.  And  now,  -with  burning  brain  and 
bursting  heart  I  ask,  are  they  j-et  living,  and 
you  reply  you  '  hope  so ! '  " 

"  Come  in,  WUliam,  I  will  tell  you  all,"  an- 
swered Johnson. 

"  AH !  Oh !  that  word  has  a  terrible  sound. 
I  cannot  go  in  if  thpy  are  not  here !  Each  fa- 
miliar article  would  only  be  a  dart  piercing  my 
heart.  Here  I  will  Listen  where  there  is  air  to 
breathe." 

He  seated  himself  upon  a  log  before  the 
door,  and  dropping  his  face  in  his  hands,  he 
said  : 

"  Go  on!" 

"William,  it  will  require  aU  your  foiiitude 
to  listen  to  the  narrative,  for  it  is  a  tale  of 
blood!" 

"Go  on ! "  replied  "WUliam,  without  raising 
his  head. 

"I  win.  After  the  fall  and  defeat  of  the 
brave  General  Lyon,  at  Wilson's  Creek,  and 
tho  consequent  retreat  of  the  Union  army,  our 
position  here  was  by  no  means  an  enviable 
one.  It  was  well  known  that  we  were  origi- 
nally from  the  East.  We  were  called  '  aboli- 
tionists,' and  this  was  enough.  Ot^er  families 
were  equally  persecuted,  and  we  resolved  to 
leave  the  country.  A  party  of  Unionists,  con- 
sisting of  all  our  immediate  neighbors,  assem- 
bled here  to  make  an-angements  for  leaving  on 
a  stated  day.  We  were  seated  around  this  very 
spot,  unconscious  of  danger,  conversing  upon 
our  present  trials  and  future  hopes.  We  num- 
bered twenty  souls,  thii'teen  of  whom  were  wo- 
men and  children.  On  a  sudden  a  party  of 
rebel  ruffians  dashed  upon  us  from  the  sur- 
rounding woods.  Escape  was  impossible,  and 
but  one  of  our  party  was  armed.  We  sat  qui- 
etly awaiting  their  approach,  thinking  this 
the  best  course  to  pm-sue,  as  we  could  not  be- 
lieve unarmed  men  would  be  murdered  in  cold 
blood,  even  by  those  -UTetches.  But  vre  were 
wofully  in  error.  Their  captain,  one  Robert 
Branch,  rode  to  the  side  of  Walter  Leeman, 
and  clove  his  skulL  I  sprang  to  my  feet — so 
did  our  comrades.  But  the  conflict  was  of 
short  duration-    Seven  unarmed  men  could 


not  cope  long  with  forty  monnted  <^«^gag.<rir»g,     I 
saw — your  father — fall — " 

A  groan  was  the  only  response  from  WiUiam. 
He  did  not  raise  his  head. 

"I  seized  the  rifle  of  my  fallen  friend,  and 
for  a  mcment  used  it  with  terrible  effect  I 
saw  three  villains  fall  under  the  blows  I  gave, 
but  this  could  not  last.  I  was  stricken  down, 
but  not  until  I  had  heard  the  barbarous  cap- 
tain cry  out,  '  Spare  that  maiden  beauty — she 
must  be  mine!'  I  could  not  save  her — I 
fainted ! " 

"  Oh !  sister — Alibamo ! "   sobbed  WiUiam. 

"I  must  have  remained  unconscious  for 
some  hours,  as  it  was  dark  when  I  awoke.  I 
could  scarcely  move,  either  from  loss  of  blood, 
or  the  terrible  excitement  and  exertion  I  had 
undergone.  I  remained  quiet  until  daylight, 
with  the  exception  of  several  times  calling  the 
names  of  my  friends.  But  I  received  no  an- 
swer. And  no  wonder.  Oh!  what  a  sight 
met  my  eyes  in  the  morning.  I  almost  -nished 
it  had  never  come.  Even  the  bright  sun  must 
have  sickened  as  it  gazed  on  such  a  sight" 

"  Was  my  father  dead?"  asked  William. 

' '  I  could  not  find  his  body,  although  I 
searched  for  it  everywhere.  It  is  my  belief 
that  he  was  only  wounded  and  then  carried 
oflf,  a  prisoner.  Five  of  my  friends  lay  dead 
and  cold  by  my  side.  Myself  and  yoiir  father 
made  up  the  seven  men  who  were  present 
when  the  fight  began.  My  wife  was  bleeding 
at  my  feet.  She  was  not  dead — but  only  sur- 
vived long  enough  to  gently  press  my  hand, 
and  look  her  last  farewcU.  She  could  not 
speak.  I  had  but  an  indistinct  recollection  of 
her  having  thrown  herself  before  me,  and  the 
blow  levelled  at  my  life  was  received  by  her. 
Oh !  God,  why  was  I  saved  to  life — but  not  t-:) 
Hve  ?  For  I  cannot  live  without  her !  I  had 
only  been  stunned  by  the  blow. " 

"  And  my  sister?  "  asked  William. 

"She,  too,  must  have  been  taken  captive!" 

"Then,  by  heavens,  we  have  much  to  live 
for!"   cried  William,  starting  to  his  feet  ' 

"Much  to  live  for?  Yes — our  country — 
our  hopes — revenge !  Oh !  William,  could  you 
have  seen  that  sight,  yoxi  would  feel  as  I  now 
feeL  Could  you  have  felt  the  bioming  fires 
that  seared  my  heart  as  I  lifted  thp  dying 
form  of  her  I  loved  so  tmly,  in  my  arms,  and 
vatuly  begged  her  not  to  leave  me  yet,  you 
would  feel  as  I  now  feel.  Could  you  have 
heard  the  cry  of  agony  wrung  fi-om  my  ^^Tetch- 
ed  breast  when  I  knew  I  no  longer  had  a  wife, 
you  would  feel  as  I  do  now.  Oh !  William,  it 
is  terrible — tenable!" 

■WTaat  course  did  you  pursue  ?"  asked  Wil^ 
liam. 

I  consigned  our  loved  ones  to  the  grave,  dis- 
guised myself,  staining  my  skin  M-ith  walnut 
bark,  and  then  started  forth  for  vengeance !" 

"And  what  have  you  accomplished?" 

"But  little  as  yet  I  have  not  met  the  man. 
I  could  have  killed,  but  if  discovered,  or  even 
suspected,  it  would  prevent  the  carrjong  out  of 
my  plans.  Price  has  employed  me  as  a  spy, 
and  thiM  I  have  access  through  his  lines.  My 
plans  9^^  fii-st,  to  find  your  father  and  your  sis- 
ter. I  am  almost  certain  she  is  with  the  rebel 
army,  and  that  I  heard  her  sweet  voice,  last 
night,  singing  a  mournful  song." 


BEAUTIFUIj  captive  of  the  EEBEL  GAIIP. 


••  Oh !  if  she  lives — but  let  tis  go.  I  will  en- 
ter the  lines  of  the  rebel  army  this  very  night. 
I  icill  go,  and  if  my  sister  is  there,  she  shall  be 
saved,  or  I  ^^•iU  perish  Math  her!"  ' 

"I  am  waiting  only  for  to-mOrrow  night. 
At  that  time  Price  will  suppose  I  have  just  re- 
turned from  Warsaw.  Then  I  ynH  go  with 
you  ! "  replied  Johnson. 

"I  shall  go  to-night!"  answered  William. 
"But  I  shall  enter  the  camp  by  stealth,  crawl 
from  tent  to  tent,  listen  to  all  conversations, 
and  perhaps  in  this  manner  may  get  important 
information,  both  for  our  friends,  and  of  my 
father  and  sister." 

"It  is  a  desperate  hazard,  WiUiam !" 
"I  am  resolved!" 

"  I  shall  go  with  you !"  replied  Johnson. 
"No,  or  at  least,  not  within  the  camp.  If 
yoii  were  seen  before  the  expected  time,  it 
would  create  suspicion.  You  will  conceal 
yourself  before  you  reach  the  outer  pickets. 
But  I  must  find  FaU-leaf.  I  will  go  to  the 
point  where  I  heard  the  rifle  report.  He  may 
be  wounded — perhaps  dead." 

Night  was  fast  approaching  as  the  friends 
took  their  coiu-se  down  the  mountain,  and  to- 
ward the  rebel  camp.  The  fires  could  be  dis- 
tinctly Been,  and  the  shriU  notes  of  the  fife, 
and  the  rattle  of  the  drum,  echoed  across  the 
mountain,  and  from  hill  to  hiU.  As  they 
reached  the  river,  William  exclaimed  : 

"It  is  nine  o'clock.  They  are  beating  the 
tatto  in  camp.  In  an  hour  all  wiU  be  quiet. 
But  let  us  now  search  for  FaU-leaf.  The  moon  is 
Bhining  brightly,  which  will  favor  our  search ! " 
The  friends  sprang  into  a  small  skiff  .which 
Johnson  drew  from  its  concealment  in  a  clump 
of  under  brush,  andin  a  moment  were  upon  the 
opposite  bank.  Without  further  words,  William 
led  the  way,  and  soon  an-ived  on  the  spot  where 
Fall-leaf  had  been  wounded.  He  examined  the 
ground  carefully,  and  at  last  exclaimed  : 

"Here  are  traces  of  blood,  and  the  grass  is 
trodden  down,  plainly  sho^N-ing  that  a  great 
struggle  has  occurred,  or  that  a  large  party 
have  passed  over  this  place." 

"Let  us  trace  the  path.  Here  it  runs,  up 
this  slope,  toward  this  rock.  And  look !  here 
the  earth  has  been  disturbed.  Do  you  not  re- 
member there  was  a  cave  here  ?  And  its 
mouth  or  entrance  is  filled  with  rock  and 
earth,  which  has  been  newly  thrown  there. 
Fall-leaf  has  been  killed,  and  btuied  here !" 

' '  'Why  buried  ?  These  rebels  are  not  in  the 
habit  of  burying  those  whom  they  murder. 
Why  should  they  bury  FaU-leaf?" 

"  Because  he  is  of  a  powerful  tribe,  and  his 
death,  if  kno'WTi,  would  make  eternal  enemies 
of  all  the  Dela wares. " 

"He  was  their  friend,  was  he  not?" 
"No!  He  met  Fremont  at  Tipton.  He 
had  formerly  been  his  friend,  having  often 
met  him  on  the  plains  between  this  and  the 
Kocky  Mountains.  His  whole  tribe  is  deeply 
attached  to  the  general,  and  wiU  do  all  in 
their  power  to  assist  him.  And  if  the  Dela- 
wares  should  learn  of  his  death,  I  believe  that 
tribe  alone  would  almost  annihilate  Price  and 
his  aiTny."  »  •■ 

The  work  of  removing  the  stone  and  earth 
which  obstructed  the  entrance  of  the  cave, 
now  began. 


They  toUed  on  in  sUence.  At  length  the 
last  obsiacle  was  removed,  and  WUliam  caUod  : 

"FaU-leaf!  FaU-leaf!" 

There  was  no  answer. 

"  He  is  dead,  or  not  here !"  said  Johnson. 

"He  must  be  here  else  why  has  this  cave 
been  fiUed,  and  so  recently.  I  wiU  descend 
and  ascertain." 

William  sprang  into  the  cave.  He  had  no- 
thing with  which  to  strike  a  Ught,  but  in  a 
moment  he  said  : 

"There  are  two  bodies  here.  I  wiU  pass 
them  out,  and  by  the  moonUght  we  can  ex- 
amine their  features." 

WUliam  lifted  the  bodies  toward  the  en- 
trance, and  as  he  did  so  he  said: 

"  One  of  them  has  been  here  a  long  time,  as 
the  decomposition  indicates.  Lay  them  on 
the  ground,  Johnson,  and  I  wiU  search  farther! " 

After  a  moment's  pause,  Johnson  asked  : 

"  Do  you  find  anything  else  ?" 

"No — nothing!" 

"Then  come  out." 

WiUiam  left  the  cave,  and  as  he  did  so, 
Johnson  grasped  him  by  the  arm,  and  asked  : 

"  WUl  you  be  calm !" 

' '  Yes — yes ! "  repUed  WiUiam.  ♦ '  But  what 
do  you  mean  ?" 

' '  Wni  you  think  only  of  revenge  ?" 

' '  Of  revenge !  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"Look  there!"  cried  Johnson,  pointing  to 
one  of  the  bodies  which  had  been  taken  froE^ 
the  cave. 

"My  father!"  shrieked  WiUiam,  as  he 
glanced  at  the  corpse. 

"  Yes,  your  father  !  But,  pray  be  firm — ^be 
calm." 

"  I  am  calm — very  calm !"  sobbed  WUliam, 
as  he  sank  beside  the  inanimate  clay. 

"The  Indian  is  recovering,  WiUiam,"  said 
Johnson. 

This  was  indeed  the  case.  In  spite  of  his 
long  confinement  in  the  cave,  and  the  suffer- 
ing endured  from  his  wound,  FaU-leaf  had  re- 
covered sufficiently  to  speak.  He  had  par- 
tiaUy  raised  himself  from  the  ground,  and  was 
resting  his  head  upon  his  elbow. 

But  WiUiam  was  too  deeply  affected  to  ob- 
serve this,  or  to  notice  the  words  spoken  by 
Johnson. 

At  last  he  arose  from  his  prostrate  position 
beside  his  father's  corpse,  and  for  a  moment 
gazed  wUdly  aroimd  him.  He  pressed  hia 
hands  to  his  temples,  as  if  endeavoring  to  col- 
lect his  scattered  thoughts.  His  eyes  feU 
iipon  the  Indian,  and  then  were  raised  to 
Johnson. 

"  I  remember  aU  now !"  he  said.  "  I  hoped 
it  was  a  di-eam — but  it  is  a  dread  reaUty — but 
not  aU — not  aU!" 

"  WiUiam !  You  know  me  ?" 

Johnson  gazed  upon  him  with  eamestnesa. 

"  You  think  I  am  mad,  Johnson !  But  I  am 
not.     Hark !  Great  heavens !  Listen ! " 

Johnson  shook  his  head. 

"Here,  Johnson — here!  kneel  with  me — 
here,  beside  my  father's  clay !  That  voice  teUs 
me  I  have  work  to  do  ! " 

"  What  voice,  WiUiam  ?" 

"  A  thousand  voices  calling  for  vengeance. 
But,  kneel  vnth.  me  now,  and  .swear  by  the 
God  of  truth  and  justice — swear  by  my  wrongs, 


10 


THE  BORDEE  SPY  ;  OB  THE 


your  •wrongs,  our  country's  -wrongs — swear  by 
your  murdered  ■wife,  to  join  me  in  pursuing 
these  fiends  in  human  form,  until  they  are 
ffwept  from  the  earth ! " 

"I  swear!"  cried  Johnson,  as  he  knelt  be- 
side his  friend. 

"Me — me  next!"  answered  Fall-leaf.  He 
made  an  effort  to  get  upon  his  feet,  but  fell 
back. 

"That  voice  again?"  cried  William,  start- 
ing up,  and  listening. 

' '  I  hear  nothing  ! "  answered  Johnson. 

"  But  I  do  !  It  is  a  sound  soft  and  plaintive. 
It  echoes  along  the  mountain,  and  I  know  its 
melody.     It  is  the  voice  of  Alibamo. " 

For  a  moment  all  were  silent  and  listened 
eagerly  to  catch  the  distant  sound,  but  it  was 
so  loT/  and  indistinct  that  nothing  definite 
could  be  made  of  it. 

"  It  is  only  the  murmur  of  the  river,  Will- 
iam, "  said  Johnson. 

"  To  me  it  is  the  murmur  of  an  angel,  and 
I  ^vill  trace  its  soiu'ce.  Johnson,  you  must  re- 
move Fall-leaf  to  our  cabin.  His  wound  is 
painful,  and  needs  attention.  Bury  my  father 
fii-st,  and  then  perfonn  this  duty.  I  will  meet 
you  to-morrow  night. " 

Without  further  words,  William  darted  from 
the  spot,  and  commenced  his  course  up  the 
mountain  toward  the  camp  of  Price.  Now 
and  then  he  paused  to  listen,  but  all  was  si- 
lent, save  the  murmur  of  the  breeze  among 
the  oaks,  and  the  rippUng  of  the  rills. 

"Am  I  dreaming?"  he  at  last  exclaimed. 
"  No — no  !  there  is  her  voice  again !     Sister !" 

William  paused,  listening  intently. 

Upon  the  clear,  moonlight  air,  rang  out  a 
voice,  sweeter  than  angels'  echoes.  But  the 
words  ;  they  spoke  of  love — of  willing  captiv- 
ity— of  future  joys  mingled  with  hope.  Of 
her  brother — her  father — ayid  her  lover — "  Har- 
ey!" 

"Is  it  possible  she  has  loved  a  rebel!  0 
God !  is  my  cup  of  bitterness  not  yet  full  ? 
But  I  win  steal  clo'ser,  and  listen ! " 

In  a  short  time  he  reached  a  rock,  upon 
which,  in  the  clear  moonlight,  coiild  be  seen, 
two  forms.  The  one  a  female,  pure  and  lovely 
as  the  moon's  own  rays  ;  the  other,  a  delicate 
youth,  of  about  twenty  years  of  age,  yet  bear- 
ing the  impress  of  a  noble  soldier.  Alibamo 
spoke  : 

"  Are  you  not  required  in  camp,  dear  Har- 
ry?" 

"Yes,  love — bi:t  here,  also!" 

"You  would  not  sacrifice  your  duty  for 
love  ?" 

"  My  first  duty  is  here — with  one  I  love  so 
wildly.  And  vou  love  me,  do  you  not,  Aliba- 
mo?" 

"Oh!  Hany — I  cannot  tell  you  how  dear- 
ly!" 

"Then  you  are  not  my  sister!"  shrieked 
William,  who  had  heard  these  words. 

' '  Halt !     "VMio  comes  there  ?" 

These  words  were  spoken  by  one  of  the  sen- 
Jinels  of  the  picket.  In  an  instant,  William 
had  darted  from  the  spot.  The  sentinel  fired 
upon  him  without  eS"ect.  He  was  soon  out 
of  danger,  and  then  paxised  irresolute.  At 
length  he  said  : 

' '  It  will  be  useless  to  return  to  night.    That 


gnn  has  aronsed  the  camp,  and  they  are  beat- 
ing the  long  roll  But,  why  should  I  w  ish  to 
return.  Ny  sister  loves  a  rebeL  No  !  what  is 
that?  ^May,  he — her  lover  is  waving  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  from  yonder  rock.  He  knows 
I  see  him — and  hark !  — she — my  sister — is  sing- 
ing— The  Star-Spangled  Banner.  Surely  thla 
is  all  a  dream." 


CH.\PTEii  m. 

The  General— His  Quarters— The  Delay— The 
Expedition-:- The    Instructions — The    Depart- 


We  fhould  hare  elee  desired  your  good  advice 
(Whioii  ntill  hath  been  both  grave  and  pro.- ]« rone) 
In  this  day's  council ;  but  we'll  tiike  to-nioirow, 
la't  far  you  ride  f — Sluike«peare. 

The  Union  army,  or  rather  a  portion  of  it, 
was  encamped  at  Warsaw,  waiting  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Osage  river  bridge,  which  was 
being  built  by  the  soldiers,  at  that  point.  The 
division  under  the  command  of  acting  Major- 
General  Sigel,  had  succeeded,  after  an  extra- 
ordinary effort,  in  reaching  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  but  it  was  impossible  to  convey  the 
heavy  trains  which  accompanied  the  army 
across,  without  something  more  than  the  small 
scow,  which  was  termed  a  ferry-boat,  and  ply- 
ing between  Warsaw  and  the  opposite  shore. 

The  divisions  under  the  command  of  McKins- 
try,  Hmiter,  and  Pope,  had  not  yet  arrived. 
Therefore  the  troops  occup^ng  Warsaw  and  its 
vicinity,'  numbered  only  about  ten  or  twelve 
thousand.  Under  the  incessant  toil  of  the  sol- 
diers, who  labored  day  and  night,  it  was  expect- 
ed that  the  bridge  would  be  complete  by  the 
time  the  rear  divisions  of  the  army  arrived. 

As  a  matter  of  prudence,  it  was  deemed 
necessary  to  keep  the  rebel  hosts  in  ignorance 
with  regard  to  the  situation  of  our  forces.  It 
was  not  expected  that  they  would  advance  up- 
on us,  although  many  expressed  a  desire  that 
it  should  be  so,  believing  that  Price  would 
never  meet  our  entire  army,  and  that  farther 
pursuit  of  that  general  was  altogether  fruit- 
less. This  opinion,  however,  was  not  general, 
and  the  more  experienced  officers  were  of  the 
opinion  that  a  few  days  would  bring  a  great 
and  decisive  battle,  but  had  perfect  confidence 
in  our  complete  success.  They  felt,  that  if 
the  rebel  leader  possessed  one  particle  o{ pride, 
he  must  make  a  stand,  after  the  oft-repeated 
oaths  that  he  had  taken,  to  meet  and  over- 
whelm the  federal  troops. 

Spies  were  reporting  each  day,  that  Price 
had  sworn  to  meet,  and  give  us  battie  ;  but  the 
opinion  among  this  class  seemed  to  be,  that 
he  would,  fall  back  to  the  Arkansas  line,  and 
make  a  junction  M-ith  Texan  troops,  said  to  be 
on  the  march  toward  Missomi.  Many  reports 
were  circulated  with  regard  to  the  strength  of 
the  rebel  anny,  some  saying  it  numbered  over 
seventy  thousand,  while  others  declared  there 
were  not  over  thirty  thousand  armed  men  con- 
nected with.  it. 

But  the  general  commanding  the  Union 
forces,  placing  little  reliance  upon  the  state- 
ment of  those  spies,  whom  he  believed  could 


BEAUTTFUL  CATTIYE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAilP. 


H 


be  bouglit  upon  eitber  side  by  the  bigbest 
bidder,  determined  to  send  known  and  tnisty 
men  into  the  very  camp  of  Piice.  The  delay  of 
the  army  would  afford  sufficient  time  for  doing 
so.  It  soon  became  known  throughout  camp 
that  the  general  wished  the  services  of  some 
two  or  three  daring  spirits,  for  a  dangerous 
enterprise,  although  what  the  nature  of  this 
enterprise  might  be,  was  not  known,  or  wheth- 
er the  officers  required  were  to  take  soldiers 
with  them  or  go  alone. 

The  headquarters  of  our  army  were  situated 
on  the  hill  at  the  upj^er  and  east  side  of  War- 
saw. The  tent  of  General  Fremont,  which 
was  of  the  Sibley  pattern,  modest  and  unas- 
siiming  in  its  appearance,  stood  in  the  edge  of 
an  oak  gi'ove,  near  the  house  of  the  rebel 
judge  Brown.  In  no  way  was  it  distinguish- 
able from  others  which  surrounded  it,  except 
that  before  the  door,  there  was  a  single  soldier 
of  the  body-guard,  with  di-awn  sword,  acting 
as  sentineL  Adjoining  the  general's  tent  were 
others  of  the  same  pattern,  which  were  occu- 
pied by  his  staff.  On  the  slope  above,  and  al-> 
most  concealed  from  view  among  the  trees, 
was  the  encampment  of  the  sharpshooters 
and  the  Benton  cadets. 

The  reader  will  follow  me  along  the  main 
road,  and  passing  headquarters  some  twenty 
rods,  will  see,  on  a  parallel  with  the  street,  a 
line  of  tents,  which  were  the  staff  officers'  of 
the  cadets.  Just  before  reaching  these  we  will 
turn  a  little  to  the  left,  and  proceed  for  a  short 
distance  down  a  narrow  lane.  At  the  extreme 
right  of  the  cadets'  camp,  stands  a  tent,  of 
precisely  the  same  appearance  as  those  sur- 
roundii^  it,  the  entire  regiment  occupjdng  the 
kind  known  as  the  Fremont  tent.  Let  us 
enter. 

It  is  occupied  at  this  time  by  four  men,  who, 
by  their  uniforms,  are  at  once  recognized  as 
officers.  Two  of  these  officers  display  the 
rank  of  captain,  by  their  shoulder-straps,  the 
other  two  that  of  first  lieutenant.  The  dark 
blue  and  bullion  of  one  of  these  lieutenants 
indicate  a  staff  officer.  He  is  the  regimental 
adjutant. 

"  William  Nettleton !"  called  one  of  the 
officers. 

"Here,  captain,"  was  the  ready  response. 

"Bring  more  coffee !" 

"Yes,  captain." 

And  away  started  the  person  addressed  as 
Nettleton. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  give  a  brief  descrip- 
tion of  this  personage,  as  he  is  to  play  a  con- 
spicuous part  in  the  following  events.  He  was 
in  height,  about  six  feet.  His  neck  was  very 
long,  his  hair  nearly  white — not  from  age,  but 
naturally  so  ;  his  brows  and  eyelashes  of  the 
same  color.  Ids  eyes  were  of  a  light  green,  his 
mouth  large  and  gaping,  his  teeth  extending 
like  a  battering  ram,  his  fonn  very  lank  and 
lean,  his  legs  immensely  long  and  thin,  and 
very  knock-kneed,  and  his  feet — oh !  ye  gods, 
— such  feet.  They  were  about  the  shape  of 
his  own  knapsack,  and  almost  as  large,  and 
his  legs  seemed  to  join  the  feet  exactly  in  the 
middle,  extending  as  far  to  the  rear  as  front 
And  when  he  walked,  one  would  almost  fancy 
that  at  every  step  he  would  fall  to  pieces.  In 
fact,  he  looked  unlike  man  or  animal,  and  at 


first  sight  he  might  have  been  taken  for  a  de- 
formed idiot.  IBut  whoever  supposed  him  aa 
such,  on  a  very  short  acquaintance  would  dis- 
cover their  mistake.  He  had  been  detached 
from  his  company  as  the  captain's  servant,  was 
veiy  much  attached  to  him,  and  delighted  in 
being  called  the  "captain's  body  guard." 

In  a  moment  his  voice  was  heard  exclaiming  : 

"Here,  ye  dam  lazy  skunks,  you;  what 
for  did  you  let  this  fire  go  out?  Captain 
wants  some  more  coffee,  and  now  it's  all  cold, 
dam  ye." 

A  burst  of  laughter  followed  this,  as  the 
adjutant  remarked : 

"  Captain,  you  have  a  jewel  in  that  fellow." 

"Yes,  but  a  rough  one." 

"A  decided  character,  I  wish  you  would 
transfer  him  to  me. " 

"  Not  for  his  weight  in  gold.  I  have  adopt- 
ed him,"  replied  the  captain. 

"I  will  wager  my  commission,  he  will 
fight!" 

"  I  intend  to  try  him!" 

"In  what  way  ?" 

"  I  'nill  tell  you  presently.  But,  let  us  talk 
of  other  matters  now.  You  heard  what  the 
colonel  said  ?" 

"  Ye  dam  lazy  skunks  you !" 

"  W^illiam's  voice  again!"  replied  the  adju- 
tant, laughing,  which  was  joined  in  by  the  four 
officers  present. 

"Perhaps  William's  address  to  his  squad 
might  apply  to  us,  for  we  have  done  very  little 
lately.  But,  the  colonel  teUs  me  that  Fremont 
wants  some  one  to — " 

"  Go  to  the  devil !"  again  shouted  WiUiam- 
He  was,  of  course,  addressing  himself  to  the 
cook  and  boys  who  surrounded  him,  and  who 
were  always  teazing  the  fellow,  and  of  course 
took  all  he  said  or  did  in  good  part. 

"  William  is  apt  in  answers,  if  replying  to  us, 
captain.  At  all  events,  that  reply  was  more 
apropos  than  the  first,"  said  the  adjutant. 

"To  go  on  some  important  service.  I  ex- 
pect," continued  the  captain,  "  it  is  to  visit  the 
camp  of  Price  as  a  spy.  There  has  nothing 
been  said  about  the  men  going  with  us,  or  wdth 
the  officer  who  may  volunteer  to  go,  and  of 
course  the  general  would  not  expect  an  officer 
of  the  cadets  to  take  men  from  other  regi- 
ments, and  ours  are  all  engaged  in  building 
the  bridge." 

"  Have  you  received  any  definite  order?" 

"  Yes,  and  I  at  once  sent  for  you  all.  The 
order  includes  our  names,  and  we  are  to  re- 
port to  the  general  at  four  o'clock.  It  is  now 
two." 

"  Anything  to  relieve  this  present  monoto- 
ny. I  for  one  am  tired  of  it.  I  came  to  Mis- 
souri to  fight,  and  not  to  run.  True,  we  are 
running  after  Price,  but  that  does  not  satisfy 
me.  I  confess  that  I  am  ambitious,  and  I  want 
to  do  something  that  will  bring  my  name  prom- 
inently before  the  world  ;  and  I  want — " 

"Coffee,  sii-,"  said  William,  entering  the 
tent. 

' '  Go  on,  adjutant.  William,  place  the  cof- 
fee upon  the  table.  You  were  saying  that  you 
want — " 

"Whiskey,  sir,"  again  repeated  William,  aa 
he  handed  a  bottle  toward  his  captain,  which 
he  had  taken  from  the  mess-chest. 


12 


THE  BOEDEB  SPY  ;    OR  THE 


"V.'illiam,  be  quiet;   don't  speak  again," 

said  the  captain. 

"I  won't,  captain,  bnt  I  heard  the  adjutant 
Bay  he  wanted  something,  and  I  thought  of 
course  it  was  the  black  bottle. " 

"Silence,  Nettleton." 

"  I  will,  captain.     Shall  I  make  it  hot?" 

"  Nettleton,  will  you  shut  your  mouth  V" 

"I  can't,  captain,  my  teeth  are  too  long." 

"  Go  after  some  wood  for  my  fii'e,  'Wiiliam. 
Take  your  squad  with  you." 

"Yes,  captain." 

In  a  moment  Nettleton  was  heard  calling  : 

' '  Here,  ye  darn  lazy  skunks  you,  captain 
wants  some  wood.  Come,  be  quick,  or  I  will 
have  you  all  in  the  guard-house. " 

"Now,  adjutant,  what  were  you  going  to 
Bay?" 

"Merely,  that  I  want  my  parents,  my  rela- 
tives, tj  feci  that  I  have  done  something  that 
they  may  be  proud  of  me ! " 

"Adjutant,  that  is  a  natural  impulse  of  the 
human  heart.  But  this  is  not  your  only  mo- 
tive ?"  The  captain  fixed  a  piercing  look  upon 
him.  He  bent  his  head  for  a  moment  and  was 
silent.  At  that  instant  the  band  struck  up  the 
Star-Spangled  Banner. 

"  No ! "  cried  the  adjutant,  springing  to  his 
feet.  ' '  That  is  not  my  only  motive.  I  thought 
you  knew  me  better.  It  is  true  I  love  my  fa- 
ther and  my  mother,  my  brothers  and  sisters, 
and  it  would  gratify  my  pride  if  I  could  retoi-n 
home  after  this  war  is  over,  an  acknowledged 
hero  ;  but,  I  love  my  country,  and  while  I 
enjoy  the  self-satisfaction  derived  from  great 
deeds,  I  desire  my  countiy  should  derive  all 
the  benefits.  It  may  be  passion  with  me — this 
love  of  countiy — but  I  trust  it  is  piinciple.  My 
fathers  fought,  and  I  should  hate  myself  if  I 
had  so  far  degenerated  as  to  fight  from  selfish 
motives,  or  fear  to  fight.  From  youth  I  have 
dreamed  of  battle-fields,  and  gloiy  for  myseK, 
never  thinking  it  would  be  in  this,  our  o^vn 
America,  that  my  first  battle  would  be  fought. 
But  it  is  so,  and  my  manhood  views  difler 
somewhat  from  those  of  childhood.  Now  I 
long  for  the  battle-field,  and  my  country's 
glory!" 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  your  loyalty,  Harry," 
replied  the  captain.  "Neither  do  I  doubt 
youi"  love  for  your  friends  and  your  countiy. 
But  you  have  just  returned  from  the  camp  of 
Price,  and,  if  I  mistakiB  not,  you  love  that 
camp. " 

Harry  did  not  reply.  The  two  other  officers 
gazed  upon  the  adjutant  with  a  look  of  sur- 
prise, and  then  turning  to  the  captain,  one  of 
them  said : 

"  Love  for  the  camp  of  Price !" 

"Oh  don't  be  alai-med,  gentlemen.  You 
know  the  good  book  tells  us  that  where  the 
treasure  is,  there  the  heart  will  be." 

' '  These  are  strange  words  ;  however,  ex- 
plain. " 

"  ^^Tiy,  can  you  not  cmess  ?" 

"Ptclatives  there!" 

' '  No !  that  is,  not  at  present.  How  soon  a 
relative  may  he  there  is  quite  another  thing."   , 

"Come — come,  captain,  explain." 

""V^Tiy,  look  at  Harrj-'s  face  ;  you  can  find 
the  explanation  there.  WTiat  but  love,  and 
love  for  the  softer  sex,  ever  made  a  man  like 


Harry  grow  pale  and  melancholy.  You  have 
not  heard  hirn  sing  *  Noble  EepubUc  *  recently, 
have  you?  You  know  the  free  bird  never 
sings  when  its  mate  has  been  caught  and 
caged." 

"  Caught  and  caged !  Why  then  if  Hany  re- 
ally does  love,  it  is  not  a  rebel  beauty  ?" 

"I  wUl  answer  that,"  cried  Harry.  "No, 
she  is  not  a  rebel  beauty,  but  is,  and  ever  has 
been  a  tnie  Union  girl.  I  call  her  giil,  for  she 
is  so  innocent,  so  artless,  so  beautiful,  and  yet 
she  possesses  firmness  and  resolution  I  never 
could  have  expected  in  one  so  young.  J  met 
her  yeai's  ago  in  New  York.  She  was  then  a 
httle  child,  but  I  loved  her  even  then.  "SV'hen 
I  visited  the  camp  of  the  rebels  last  week, 
what  was  my  surprise  to  meet  her.  I  learned 
her  histojy,  and  I  found  she  was  detained  as  a 
prisoner.  But  it  is  growing  late.  In  ten  min- 
utes we  must  meet  the  general.  I  will  ex- 
plain all  this  at  some  future  time." 

"Ah!  here  comes  Nettleton.  I  want  him," 
said  the  captain. 

Nettleton  entered  the  tent. 

' '  AYilliam,  tell  me  which  you  prefer :  to  tcrve 
•u  the  ranks,  or  to  act  as  my  body-guard?  " 

' '  "V\Tiy,  captain,  I  want  to  remain  just  as  I 
am.  Why  ?  You  don't  want  to  have  me  su- 
perceded, do  you  ?" 

"  Oh !  no  ;  but  why  do  you  object  to  being 
in  the  ranks  ?" 

' '  I  can't  turn  round  quick  enough ! " 

""\^Tiy?" 

" My  feet  are  too  big?" 

' '  I  am  afraid,  William,  that  you  are  a  cow- 
ard!" 

"I  don't  think  I  am,  captain !"  • 

"If  you  were  to  meet  the  enemy  in  battle, 
would  you  run  ?" 

' '  "WTiich  way  ?" 

""Why, /rom  the  enemy." 

"I  suspect  I  should,  captain!" 

"^Tiy,  William,  you  said  you  were  not  a 
coward ! " 

"  WeU,  I  say  so  again!" 

' '  Then  why  would  you  run /rom  the  enemy  ?" 

"Why,  I  must  f  Alow  my  captain  of  course  !" 

"Good,  Nettleton,  good,"  shouted  the  list- 
eners. "You  are  matched  this  time,  cajitain." 
And  aU  joined  in  the  laugh. 

"WeU,  William,  I  exiKctl  shall  go  to-night, 
v>-here  there  is  some  danger.  WiU  you  go  with 
me?" 

"Yes,  captain." 

"Think  again,  Yrilliam.  We  may  both  be 
IHIIpd?" 

"  Oh !  well,  if  we  are  only  hoth  killed,  I  can 
serve  you  still?" 

"  Serve  me !     In  vrhat  way?" 

"By  bringing  coal  for  your  fire,  instead  of 
wood!" 

"Come — come,  William,  no  more  of  this 
levity.  H  you  -wtU  go,  or  wish  to  go,  you  can 
do  go.  Saddle  "WTiite  Surry  for  yourself.  Give 
my  bro\s-n  horse  to  Swasey's  nigger !  prepare 
my  horse,  and  be  ready  in  half  an  hour.  Come, 
gentlemen,  it  is  time  to  report  to  the  general." 

The  four  ofiicers  left  the  tent,  and  proceed- 
ed to  the  headquartei-s  of  the  commanding 
officer.  They  were  duly  announced  by  tho 
guard. 

Then  entered  the  tent      The  general  was 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPXnTE  OF  THE  EEBEL  C.iMP. 


IJ 


seated  at  a  small  table,  busy  with  his  papers. 
But  ho  rose  instantly,  and  iu  a  cordial  manner, 
in^'ited  them  to  a  scat." 

"We  report  for  orders,  general,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  Then  you  have  resolved  to  undertake  this 
task  ?"  answered  the  general  in  an  inquiring 
manner. 

"Yes,  although  ignorant  of  its  nature,  we 
have  resolved  to  attempt  anything  that  may 
benefit  our  army  and  our  cause.  You  have 
only  to  give  your  commands,  to  have  them 
faithfully  executed,  if  it  is  possible  to  do  so !" 

"  I  have  no  commands  to  give.  That  which 
I  ask  is  a  mere  request,  which  you  are  at 
liberty  to  decline  if  you  wish.  Here  are  the 
directions.  You,  Captain  Hayward,  wiU  act 
as  you  think  best,  so  far  as  details  are  con- 
cerned, and  will  take  command.  If,  however, 
after  reading  the  directions  contained  in  that 
envelope,  you  wish  to  decline  the  service,  let 
ma  hear  of  it  soon  as  convenient." 

"  You  have  our  answer  now.  Good  evening, 
general." 

"  Good  evening,  gentlemen." 

The  officers  at  once  left  the  tent,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  that  of  the  captaia. 

"Be  seated,"  said  Captain  HayAvard,  as  he 
opened  the  envelope.  He  glanced  over  its 
contents,  and  turning  to  his  companions  he  said: 

' '  "We  must  disguise  ourselves.  It  is  as  I  sus- 
pected— we  are  to  go  to  the  camp  of  Price.  I 
have  in  my  possession  one  of  the  secesh  uni- 
forms, which  formerly  belonged  to  an  officer. 
I  shall  wear  it.  You  will  dress  in  the  plain 
homespun  worn  by  the  rebel  soldiers." 

"Where  are  we  to  procure  them?" 

"They  will  be  sent  to  my  tent  in  a  few  mo- 
ments. The  general  has  provided  them.  WU- 
liam  Nettleton ! " 

"I'es,  captain." 

"Are  our  horses  ready?" 

"Yes,  captain." 

"TeU  my  cook  to  prepare  rations  for  three 
days  for  six  men.  Take  care  that  they  are 
properly  placed  in  our  haversacks— then  bring 
the  horses  around  to  my  tent-door.  Stay,  here 
is  a  suit  of  clothing  I  wish  you  to  put  on,  and 
wherever  wo  go,  understand  you  belong  in 
Springfield,  and  have  just  left  the  hospital 
there.  After  we  pass  our  lines,  you  know  you 
are  a  rebel,  so  lay  aside  that  rifle,  and  take 
the  shot  gun  I  gave  you.  '  Swasey's  nigger ' 
will  not  be  armed  at  all.     Go." 

In  a  few  moments  the  officers  had  changed 
their  uniforms  for  the  rougher  dress.  Their 
horses  were  brought  up,  and  they  at  once  took 
their  leave  of  camp,  followed  by  the  negro  and 
William  Nettleton. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Jowney — The  Cowardly  Negro — Nettleton' s 
Method — Meeting  the  Rebels — Re  will  fighi — 
— Powder  discovered — The  Arrival. 

The  devil  damn  thee  black,  thou  cream-faced  loon  I 
Where  got'=t  ttiou  that  goose  look  1 — Shakespeare. 

Thb  party  rode  rapidly  to  the  river,  and 
were  soon  upon  the  opposite  shore.  Tumiug 
to  the  east,  they  passed  along  a  narrow  road 


which  wound  its  course  along  the  river's  bank. 
For  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  the  horsemen  did 
not  pause,  and  not  a  word  was  spoken.  At 
last  Captain  Ha3rward  ordered  a  halt,  and  tha 
party  dismounted.  The  horses  were  secured 
to  the  surrounding  trees,  and  Nettleton  and 
the  negro  left  to  guard  them. 

"  Come  with  me,  comrades,"  said  Hay- 
ward,  as  he  took  his  course  toward  the  river's 
bank. 

In  a  moment  they  were  seated  by  the  side  of 
the  rapid  Osage,  entirely  concealed  by  tha 
thick  gi'owth  of  underbrush  by  which  they 
were  sun'ounded. 

"It  is  better  that  our  servants  should  not 
hear  our  conversation,"  remarked  Hayward- 
"  And  now,  gentlemen,  we  must  lay  our  plans. 
I  wish  every  one  to  speak  freely.  You  know 
our  object,  of  course." 

"I  know  its  nature  ;  but  perhaps  you  can 
give  us  details  we  are  not  acquaiated  with," 
answered  Lieut  Elsler. 

"They  are  merely  the  instructions  previ- 
ously given,  with  a  trifling  difference.  We  are 
to  reach  the  camp  of  Price  by  noon  to-moiTow, 
or  to-day,  as  I  see  it  is  after  twelve  o'clock," 
replied  Hayward.  "When  we  arrive  within  a 
mile  of  the  outer  pickets,  we  must  conceal  our 
horses,  and  leave  the  darkey  to  watch  them. 
I  shall  walk  boldly  into  the  camp,  and  report 
myself  to  Price  as  an  officer  and  messenger 
just  arrived  from  Mcintosh's  command.  Our 
colonel  was  in  the  same  regiment  with  him, 
the  10th  regulars,  before  this  war  broke  out, 
and  has  given  me  an  exact  description  of  his 
person  and  peculiarities.  To  throw  Price  off 
his  guard,  and  to  prevent  his  questioning  me 
too  closely,  I  shall  repeat  some  of  the  peculiar 
expressions  of  Mac,  which,  of  coui'se,  Price  will 
at  once  recognise,  and  that,  together  vnth.  my 
secesh  uniform,  will  settle  matters.  I  am  to 
tell  some  story  which  will  induce  him  to  make 
a  stand  here,  or  to  advance  upon  us  at  War- 
saw ;  or,  at  least,  to  give  us  battle  at  Spring- 
field. I  shall  tell  Price  that  it  is  the  advice  of 
Mcintosh  to  meet  Fremont  on  the  Osage,  if 
possible,  and  say  that  the  reason  of  this  advice 
is,  that  Mac  is  in  communication  with  one  Mar- 
shall, an  officer  high  in  ranlt  in  the  federal 
army,  and  that  Marshall  teUs  him  the  exact 
position  of  our  forces.  Of  course  our  numbers 
are  to  be  greatly  underrated.  The  federals,  I 
shall  say,  profess  to  have  thirty-five  th  lusand 
men,  all  anxious  to  fight,  when  in  reality  they 
have  not  more  than  twenty  thousand,  poorly 
anned,  and  mostly  arrant  cowards,  who  will 
run  at  the  first  discharge  of  the  confederate 
guns.  I  shall  teU  Price  that  Mac  has  perfect 
confidence  in  the  information  received  through 
his  friend,  and  sent  me  forward  at  once  to 
cordmunicate  with  him.  You  must  all  remain 
concealed  until  I  come  to  you.  I  shaU  rematq 
in  his  camp  vmtU  evening,  get  such  informa- 
tion as  I  can  with  regard  to  his  actual  strength, 
and  what  he  intends  doing,  and  when  the 
countersign  for  the  night  is  given  out,  I  shall 
manage  to  procure  it,  and  then  return  to  you. 
Our  fm-ther  plans  we  can  then  arrange." 

"But,  if  there  should  already  be  some  of 
the  officers  from  Mcintosh's  department,  pres- 
ent, and  should  declare  you  did  not  b-  l^n'^,' 
there .' " 


14 


THE  BOEDER  SPY  ;    OR  THE 


"  It  is  not  at  all  probable.  Mac  has  not  ro- 
eeived  any  information  at  all." 

"  But  you  know  Price  has  sent  spies  into 
onr  camp,  and  if  any  of  them  should  be  pres- 
ent and  recognise  you  ?" 

"  I  must  take  the  chances.  If  I  do  not  re- 
turn to  you  by  eleven  o'clock,  you  will  know 
that  I  have  been  arrested." 

"If  ye  are  arrested  we  ■«-ill  go  in  and  lick 
the  nasty  chaw-tobacker  skunks,  and  get  you 
out,"  said  Nettleton,  who  had  approached  just 
in  time  to  hear  the  last  sentence. 

"William,  I  told  you  to  remain  with  the 
horses,  did  I  not  ?" 

"I  know  you  did,  captain,  but  you  see  I 
liad  to  come  and  report  myself  under  arrest." 

"  What  have  you  been  doing,  William  ?" 

••I've  killed  the  nigger!" 

•'  Not  Swasey's  nigger  ?" 

"Yes,  I  have!" 

"  Why  did  you  do  that  ?" 

"Why,  captain,  ye  see  the  black  sneak  got 
akeered  and  turned  almost  white,  and  shivered 
like  a  poodle  when  he's  going  to  ketch  a  lick- 
ing. And  sez  I  to  him,  you  dog  or  rascal, 
what  are  you  skeered  about  ?  And  when  he 
tried  to  speak  his  teeth  rattled  so  that  I  thought 
it  was  a  wagon  coming  over  the  mountain. 
Then  he  jumped  on  one  of  the  horses  and  sez 
•I'm  g'wan  back!'  So  I  just  tapped  him  on 
the  head  with  the  but  of  my  gun,  and  I'll  be 
blasted  if  the  critter  didn't  get  right  off  the 
horse  and  lay  down  without  my  telling  him  to 
do  it.  But,  I  didn't  want  to  kill  the  black 
skin  ;  I  didn't  think  his  pate  was  so  soft.  Nig- 
gers generally  ain't. " 

"  "\Vhat  was  the  feUow  frightened  about  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  captain,  except  it  was  the 
dark!" 

The  officers  exchanged  glances,  and  Hay- 
ward  said  in  an  under  tone  : 

"  It  was  just  as  I  should  have  expected  Net- 
tleton to  act ! "  Then  turning  to  WUliam  he  said : 

"  Go  back  to  the  horses,  and  don't  kill  any  ' 
one  else  to-night!" 

"I  won't,  captain,  unless  they  are  enemies 
or  Cbwards,  replied  William,  as  he  turned  to 
depart 

"I  would  trust  that  fellow  with  my  life," 
said  Hayward,  gazing  after  Nettleton. 

"  But  you  were  saying,  captain,  if  you  did 
not  return  by  eleven  o'clock,  we  should  know 
you  were  arrested.  "WTiat  shall  we  do  in  that 
case  ?" 

"  Y'ou  can  do  nothing.  Eetum  to  camp  and 
leave  me  to  my  fate.  However,  I  apprehend 
no  such  danger.  But,  Harry,  you  spoke  of  a 
beauty  whom  you  love,  and  who  is  a  prisoner. 
Have  j'ou  anything  to  request?  Perhaps  we 
can  serve  you  in  this  matter." 

"Yes,  Harry,  we  will  try,"  replied  Elsler  ; 
• '  but  will  you  not  give  us  the  remaining  portion 
of  your  adventure  ?" 

"  Have  I  time?"  asked  the  adjutant,  turning 
to  the  captain. 

"  Oh  !  yes,  true  love  affairs  are  usually  short 
but  sweet  I  presume  it  ^^■LLl  not  take  you 
very  long  to  .speak  of  bright  eyes,  ruby  lips, 
flowing  tresses,  and  soft  whispers — sighs,  and 
all  that  kind  of  nonsense.     Go  on- " 

"  Captain,  I  know  you  think  lightly  of  love, 
but  wait  until  you  have  seen  Alibamo.     You 


will  love  her,  too.     She  is  a  being  to  lo\ 
beautiful  as  morning — gentle  as  a  summer  eve- 
ning's breeze." 

"Exactly,  and  so  on  indefinitely.  Young 
ladies  are  always  all  this,  and  more,  in  young 
lovers'  estimation.  But  give  us  facts,  Harry, 
She  is  a  prisoner,  and  that  interests  me.  Per- 
haps I  can  see  her  to-day,  and  give  her  some 
message  from  you,  which  will  give  her  hopes 
of  liberty. " 

"  I  have  very  little  to  say,  but  much  to  do. 
While  I  was  with  the  scouting  party  some  days 
since,  I  went  to  the  camp  of  the  rebels.  I  did 
not  seek  admittance  within  their  lines,  but 
from  a  commanding  point  I  saw  their  v>hole 
armj',  although  I  could  not  form  any  correct 
estimate  of  their  strength.  As  I  was  return- 
ing I  met  Alibamo,  in  company  with  a  squad 
of  soldiers  who  are  acting  as  her  guard.  She 
recognized  me  at  once,  and  was  about  to 
spring  forward,  when  I  raised  my  finger  to  my 
lips,  in  token  of  silence.  She  understood  me. 
She  knew  I  was  not  a  rebel  but  the  soldiers 
sujDposing  me,  from  my  rough,  homespun 
clothing,  to  be  one  of  their  own  friends,  did 
not  notice  me,  or  observe  the  sign  of  recogni- 
tion and  silence  which  passed  between  myself 
and  the  lady.  I  spoke  to  the  soldiers  :  '  Hold 
on  a  moment,'  I  said,  'if  I  am  not  greatly  mis- 
taken, I  have  met  this  beauty  before  in  New 
Orleans. '  As  I  spoke  these  words,  I  fixed  my 
eyes  upon  her.  I  tried  to  look  hatred.  She 
understood  me,  and  replied  that  she  had  met 
me  before.  '  And  I  loved  you, '  I  said,  '  but  that 
love  was  of  no  avail.  You  left  me.  I  deter- 
mined to  follow  you,  for  revenge,  but  I  did  not 
know  where  you  were.  And  now  I  meet  you 
near  my  own  camp.  And  you  are  a  prisoner ! 
Am  I  not  revenged  ?' 

'  The  soldiers  heard  every  word  I  had  spo- 
ken, and  imderstood  me  just  as  I  spoke.  She 
then  rejilied  to  me  thus  : 

"  '  It  is  true  we  have  met  before,  and  you  told 
me  of  your  love.  I  turned  from  you,  I  scarce- 
ly knew  why,  but  you  were  mistaken  if  you 
thought  I  did  not  love  you.  That  I  left  the 
place  where  we  first  met  was  unavoidable. 
And  because  I  left  thus,  you  wish  to  revenge 
me !  Well,  you  have  your  revenge.  My  fa- 
ther and  my  brother,  most  likely,  have  been 
murdered  by  rebels  such  as  jou.  I  am  in  the 
hands  of  a  ruffian.  I  cannot  escape — I  meet 
you,  and  you  taunt  me !  WeU,  you  are  re- 
venged ! ' 

"Thus  she  briefly  told  me  her  story.  I 
asked  her  if  she  could  love  me  yet,  and  she  re- 
plied she  could.  I  pointed  to  a  certain  rock, 
and  told  her  that,  as  soon  as  my  duties  would 
permit,  I  would  meet  her  there.  Of  course  I 
could  not  jjermit  her  to  escape,  and  imless  she 
would  promise  to  remain,  and  become  one  of 
us,  I  couli  do  nothing  for  her.  One  of  the 
guard  said  she  could  not  meet  me  there  alone, 
as  Branch  would  not  allow  it,  but  she  might  ba 
permitted  to  tcalk  if  she  chose  to  do  so,  in  th« 
evening,  accompanied  by  the  present  guard. 
I  thanked  them,  said  I  would  let  Alibamo 
know  when  I  could  come,  and  if  they  would 
keep  the  matter  a  secret,  I  would  pay  them 
well  for  it.  I  could  afford  to  do  that,  as  my 
father  was  rich.  Believing  me  a  rebel,  they 
readily  consented. 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OP  THE  REBEL  CAMP. 


15 


"  Of  course,  you  know  my  plana  now,  cap- 
tain. Arrange  all  your  affairs,  and  then  com- 
municate w4th  Alibamo  for  me.  Tell  her  to 
meet  me  at  eleven  o'clock  at  the  place  appoint- 
ed. There  will  be  a  guard  of  twelve,  captain. 
What  say  you  ?" 

"  We  will  rescue  her !" 

"Can  we  do  it?" 

«•  Nettleton  alone  cpuld  do  it !  Why  do  you 
ask,  can  ice  .'*" 

"  It  is  an  individual  hazard !" 

"Your  cause  is  ours,  Harry.  But  come,  it 
is  time  to  continue  our  journey.  It  will  be 
daylight  before  we  reach  our  destination. " 

As  they  approached  the  spot  where  the 
horses  were  tied,  they  saw  the  negro  standing 
erect,  and  Nettleton  giving  him  advice  which 
was  as  follows  : 

"Now  look  a  here,  '  Swasey's  nigger,'  you 
are  a  mean  feller  any  how,  and  ain't  much  ac- 
count no  way.  But,  don't  go  and  make  a 
sneak  of  yourseK  by  being  such  a  milksop  of  a 
coward.  Cos  why  ?  You  see,  I  hit  you  on  the 
head,  and  I  thought  you  was  killed.  I  didn't 
care  much,  no  way,  kase  you're  such  a  mean 
soldier,  any  way.  But  just  behave  yourself, 
and  don't  be  a  sneak  any  more,  and  I'll  let  ye 
live  ;  but  if  you  show  the  white  feather,  as 
captain  calls  it,  you  will  find  out  that  the  cap- 
tain's body-guard  don't  have  any  tum-taUs 
about  him ;  no,  sir,  Mr.  Darkey ! " 

"  I  won't  be  coward  no  more,  Massa  Nettle- 
ton. GroUy,  don't  I  ^^•ish  dis  chile  was  brabe 
like  you.  But,  ye  see,  Massa  Nettleton,  when 
dis  chile  gets  in  de  woods,  and  de  rebels  are 
aroun',  it  makes  his  har  stan'  on  end. " 

"  Well,  don't  you  do  it  no  more,  or  I  make 
you  stand  on  end !" 

"  William  Nettleton,"  called  the  captain. 

"  Yes,  sir !   want  the  horses  ?" 

"Yes,  William." 

As  the  party  mounted,  and  prepared  to  de- 
part. Captain  Hayward  said  : 

' '  Why,  William,  you  informed  me  that  you 
had  killed  that  gentleman  of  color.  I  see  he 
is  alive,  and  apparently  unhurt. " 

"  Why  ye  see,  captain,  his  skull  is  so  thick, 
it  ain't  so  easily  cracked.  But,  if  you'll  only 
just  examine  his  skull,  you'll  find  a  lump  there 
big  enough  for  a  breastwork." 

' '  Do  you  think  it  has  improved  his  condi- 
tion ?" 

"  I  guess  it  knocked  some  of  the  fear  out  of 
his  woolly  top-piece,  and  if  I  have  occasion  to 
hit  him  again,  I  bet  it  will  knock  it  all  out. " 

"  George,  what  are  you  afraid  of?"  asked 
Hayvvard,  speaking  to  the  negro. 

"I'se  most  afeerd  of  Cap'n  Nettleton,  mas- 
sa, "  replied  the  negro,  as  he  opened  his  mouth 
and  grinned. 

"  Did  he  hurt  you  very  much  ?" 

"Considerable  much,  massa  cap'n.  Golly, 
I  thought  the  gun  crack  de  skuU,  sure. " 

"  But  you  are  not  afraid  of  the  rebels,  are 
you,  George?" 

"  Not  when  I'se  good  way  off!" 

"Captain,"  said  the  adjutant,  "we  shall 
have  trouble  with  this  fellow.  Had  we  not 
better  send  him  back  ?" 

"  Perhaps  it  would  be  the  best  course." 

•'  Oh !  massa  cap'n,  don't  send  dis  chile 
back  alone.     De  rebels  catch  him,  sure.     And 


den,  O  Lord  golly,  dey  whip  me  to  strings, 
sure .'" 

"So  they  would.  The  best  thing  you  can 
do  is  to  keep  quiet.  We  shall  conceal  out 
horses  when  we  arrive  wittin  a  few  miles  of 
the  camp,  and  you  must  remlSn  with  them.  If 
you  do  60,  you  will  be  safe,  but  if  you  attempt 
to  return  alone,  you  will  be  caught  and  whipped 
to  death." 

"Oh!  golly!  massa,  dis  chile  will  do  just 
what  massa  cap'n  tell  him.  But  is  ye  gwan  to 
lebe  dis  ohile  all  stark,  staring,  breving  alone  ?" 

"AU  alone,  George,  and  your  only  safety 
will  be  in  keeping  perfectly  quiet  so  that  you 
will  not  be  discovered. " 

"  Can't  Massa  Nettleton  stay  ?" 

' '  WiUiam, "  said  Hayward,  ' '  give  that  fellow 
a  lecture." 

"  Yes,  captain.  Look  a  here,  you  disgrace 
of  your  country, "  said  Nettleton,  as  he  rode  up 
to  the  side  of  the  negro,  ' '  look  a  here  ;  if  I 
hear  you  open  your  mouth  again,  I'll  cram  the 
muzzle  of  my  gun  down  your  throat,  and  then 
shoot  it  off.  Lord  wouldn't  there  be  a  splut- 
terin  of  nigger ! " 

"  I'se  dumb,  Cap'n  Nettleton." 

"WeU,  talk  no  more.  Come,  comrades, 
double  quick." 

Captain  Hayward  struck  his  horse  and 
dashed  forward,  followed  by  the  entire  party. 

It  was  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as 
they  were  riding  rapidly  along,  when  Nettleton 
rode  up  to  the  side  of  Captain  Hayward  and 
said  : 

"Captain,  don't  you  see  them  sneaks  ahead?" 

The  captain  looked  toward  the  spot  indica- 
ted and  replied  : 

"  Stumps,  you  mean,  William." 

"No,  golly  massa,  dem's  no  stumps  ;  dem's 
hooman  beins.  Dar,  don't  you  hear  dat  horse 
whinner  ?" 

"Halt!"  saM Hayward.  " Look  to  your  pis- 
tols— have  your  swords  ready — there  are  about 
twenty  of  them.  They  see  us,  and  are  await- 
ing our  approach.  It  is  too  late  to  conceal 
ourselves.     Forward ! " 

The  party  moved  onward  at  a  slackened 
pace.  When  they  had  arrived  within  forty 
yards  of  the  horsemen.  Captain  Hayward  said : 

' '  Halt  here  a  moment.     I  will  ride  forward. " 

In  an  instant  he  had  reached  them.  He 
rode  up  carelessly  and  fearlessly. 

"Halt!"  cried  the  leader,  addressing  Hay- 
ward. 

"To  what  purpose,  sir?"  demanded  Hay- 
ward. 

' '  For  examination ! "  was  the  response. 

"The  moon  is  shining  brightly.  You  can 
easily  examiae  my  face  and  uniform.  But 
perhaps  you  prefer  to  examine  these?"  said 
Hayward,  drawing  his  revolver  with  one  hand 
and  his  sword  with  the  other. 

"Precisely!"  was  the  reply,  "unless  you 
pass  examination  first." 

"  Well,  sir,  as  I  don't  intend  to  submit  my- 
self to  any  such  process,  we  vnU.  commence 
with  these  at  once.  Forward,  boys ! "  shouted 
Hayward,  turning  to  his  own  party,  "  here  are 
a  set  of  d — d  home  guards  !" 

Hayward  was  weU  satisfied  that  the  party 
was  no  other  than  a  portion  of  Price's  army, 
and  his  rough  allusion  to  the  "  home  guards  " 


16 


THE  BOEDEB  SPY ;    OE  THE 


was  intended  to  impress  them  ^vith  the  fact 
that  he  and  his  party  were  also  of  the  rebel  ar- 
my. The  ruse  succeeded.  As  the  remainder 
of  Haj'ward's  party  were  approaching,  with 
drawn  swords,  the  officer  in  command  of  the 
other  squad,  said  : 

"Don't  trouble  them.  I  think  we  are  all 
cut  from  the  same  piece  of  cloth. " 

' '  Then  you  are  not  what  I  suppose  ?"  asked 
Hayward. 

"  We  are  of  the  confederate  army,  and  have 
just  come  from  camp." 

"Indeed!  then  you  need  not  fear  us ! "  said 
Hayiv-ard,  laughing.  ' '  That  is,  if  you  will  give 
a  good  account  of  yourselves.  Halt,  boys, 
don't  annihilate  them. " 
The  leader  of  the  twenty  joined  in  the  laugh, 
he  saw  the  remaining  five  approach. 
"Oh!  Lord!  massa,"  said  the  negro  as  he 
approached,  "  don't— don't — if  dem's  home 
guards  we  will  be — " 

Somehow  in  turning,  just  at  that  instant  the 
gun  which  Nettleton  carried,  came  in  violent 
contact  with  the  darkey's  nose,  which  checked 
his  further  utterance. 

"Yes,  ye  dam  skunk,  you  maybe  mighty 
glad  them  ain't  home  guards.  If  they  was, 
you'd  catch  Jerusalem,  I  teU  ye  what,  ye  black 
rascal ! " 

The  darkey  did  not  appear  to  comprehend, 
but  dared  not  speak. 

' '  Whither  bound,  boys  ?"  asked  Hayward. 
' '  Well, "  replied  the  leader,  ' '  we  are  going  to 
scout  around  the  federal  camp  a  Little,  to  find 
out  what  we  can.  I  suppose  we  can  get  in,  as 
■we  shaU  go  separately,  and  if  surprised,  we 
shall  pass  as  home  guards.  I  fancy  no  diffi- 
cnlty,  as  you  mistook  us  for  such. " 

"Still,  you  must  be  very  careful.  These 
Yankees  are  very  sharp,  I  am  informed,"  re- 
plied Hayward. 

"Well,  if  we  are  attacked  we  must  do  our 
best,  of  course.  But  we  may  not  go  as  far  as 
Warsaw.  Our  principal  object  is,  to  get  some 
kegs  of  powder,  which  are  buried  on  the  Osage, 
jujst  above — let  me  see." 

The  officer  took  a  card  from  his  pocket  and 
read  aloud  : 

"Just  above  Rapid  creek,  on  the  icest  bank,  near 
a  large  oak  tree,  which  is  marked  G.  S.  A. " 

"Powder!  good!  We  are  in  need  of  it," 
answered  Hayward.  "  By  the  by,  I  am  out  of 
powder — so  are  our  entire  party.  Have  you 
any  to  spare  ?" 

"  Oh !   yes,  here  is  a  flask." 
Hayward  reached  for  his  second  pistol,  and 
then  looking  up  with  surprise,  he  said  : 

' '  Whj',  I  lost  one  of  my  weapons.  Ah  !  I 
remember  where  we  stopped,  about  two  miles 
back,  in  the  brush,  by  the  river's  side.  Elsler, 
you  have  not  ridden  as  far  to-day  as  I  have  ; 
won't  you  i-ide  back  and  get  it  for  me.  You 
probably  will  find  it  on  the  ground  where  I 
was  sitting.  We  -will  ride  slow,  so  that  you 
can  easily  overtake  us." 

' '  With  pleasure,  captain, "  replied  Elsler,  as 
he  turned  his  horse,  and  rode  rapidly  away. 

"I  would  go  with  you,  captain,"  said  Hay- 
ward, "  were  it  not  that  I  have  important  in- 
formation to  impart  to  General  Price.  By  the 
by,  captain,  is  my  friend  Branch  with  you 
now  ?" 


"Yes — but  you  must  have  been  absent 
some  time  not  to  be  aware  of  his  presence. " 

",0h!  I  hi'.vc  not  been  with  the  general 
since  the  Lexingcou  afiair.  I  just  came  up 
from  Mclutu.h's  command.  But  why  woidd  I 
be  particularly  aware  of  his  presence.  Has 
Branch  got  himself  into  trouble  ?" 

"  Yes — he's  caught  a  tartar !" 

"WUl  a  duel  be  the  result?"  asked  Hay- 
ward, with  apparent  soli«fitude. 

"  Oh  !   he's  already  shot ! " 

"Injured  badly?" 

"  0  !  no,  that  is,  not  mortally.  He  was  on- 
ly shot,  as  Mercutio  says,  '  with  a  white 
wench's  black  eye. '    That's  alL" 

"I  don't  exactly  xmderstand  you,"  replied 
Hayward,  feigning  ignorance. 

"  \Vhy,  you  see.  Branch  took  a  young  gal 
prisoner,  and  has  kept  her  in  camp  some  time. 
At  first  he  was  hai'sh  and  done  just  about  as  he 
pleased — that  is,  he  said  about  what  he  pleased. 
But  he  never  couldn't  come  near  the  gaL 
She  struck  him  once  with  a  dagger  when  he 
tided  to  kiss  her,  and  nearly  kiUed  him.  Du- 
ring the  time  he  was  sick  he  fell  in  love  in  re- 
al earnest  with  the  gal,  and  now  ehe  does  any- 
thing she  pleases,  except  leave.  That  she  can't 
do,  as  Branch  has  detailed  a  guard  to  watch 
her,  and  although  they  are  just  as  much  in 
love  with  her  as  Branch  is,  they  dare  not  let 
her  escape." 

"Indeed!  She  must  be  a  fascinating  crea- 
ture.    Is  she  in  camp  now  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  she  has  a  tent  to  herself." 

"  What  is  her  name  ?" 

"I  believe  they  call  her  Alibamo." 

"She  is  a  Spanish  beauty,  then?" 

' '  That  is  her  Christian  name.  But  I  believa 
she  is  of  Spanish  origin. 

"I  must  see  this  beauty,"  said  Hayvrard, 
laughing. 

"  You  had  better  look  out  for  your  heart" 

"Oh!  no  danger.  I  am  not  susceptible. 
Here  is  a  yoxmg  gentleman  who  is,  however. 
How  is  it,  HaiTy,  do  you  think  you  will  love 
this — this — what  is  her  name  ?" 

"Alibamo." 

' '  Alibamo !  Yes — soft — musical — poeticaL 
Will  you  love  Alibamo,  Harry  ?" 

' '  Very  likely,  captain, "  replied  the  adjutant. 

"Weil,  we  must  proceed.  Good-by,  cap- 
tain.    I  hope  you  ^\•iIl  secure  the  powder!" 

The  parties  now  separated.  Captain  Hay- 
ward and  his  friends  riding  leisurely  forward, 
until  the  others  were  no  longer  to  be  seen. 

' '  I  guess  he'll  git  that  powder  over  the  left, " 
said  Nettleton,  giinning  a  smile  that  reminded 
one  of  a  large  hole  in  the  mountain. 

' '  Search  for  your  revolver,  captain.  Perhaps 
you  have  not  lost  it  at  alL" 

"I  brought  but  one,  and  that  is  here.  But 
never  mind." 

In  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  the  captain 
rode  iuto  a  thick  cluster  of  oaks,  followed  by 
his  friends. 

The  horses  were  secured  in  a  position  where 
they  were  entii-ely  concealed  from  ^•iew.  The 
negro  was  instmcted  to  watch  them,  and  the 
others  were  to  remain  quiet  imtil  the  retui-n  of 
Captain  Hay\\^ard,  provided  he  should  return 
by  twelve  o'clock  the  following  night.  If  not, 
they  were  to  act  as  they  thought  best 


BEAUTIPUL  C-U:*Tr\'3  OP  THE  EEBEL  CAMP. 


IT 


CHAPTER  V 

Wttpjoard  in  Camp — The  Spies— The  Maiden 
Alibaino — The  Intervicu)  with  Price — The  Per- 
ilous Situation. 

Columbia's  pona  I  the  heavens  above  ua 
Sent  ftiigels  of  glory,  who  brought  doim  our  stars  1 
With  p:irt  of  henvon's  blue 

Whioh  they  gjive  Washington, 
An'i  through  him  to  you, 
Wheu  firit  you  begun 
To  form  our  proud  standard.    Then  Ifickinp;  the  bars, 
Columbi:i"9  daughters  cxcl'.imed,  "  Those  who  love  u.i 
Must  add  to  tluitpirticn  with  etreams  of  their  blood, 
Bindiug  it  to  the  blue  and  thJ  stars,  though  a  flood 
Bs  rijquired."      •       •       •        •        •     Colonel  Weeks. 

It  was  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning 
irhen  Captain  Hayward  left  his  friends,  and 
proceeded  toward  the  camp  of  General  Price, 
•which  was  about  font  nules  from  the  spot 
where  the  horses  had  been  secured  and  the 
party  concealed.  Several  of  the  picket  guard 
were  passed,  who  came  at  once  to  the  shoulder 
arms  and  salute,  aS  Hayward  approached.  He 
soon  reached  the  guard-house.  Here  the  in- 
spection was  a  trifle  more  critical,  although 
the  captain  passed  within  the  lines  without  the 
elightest  difficulty.  He  walked  along  as  one 
famUiar  -with  the  place,  his  eyes  surveying 
each  surrounding  object  at  a  single  glance,  and 
Beeking,  among  the  better  class  of  tents,  one 
which,  by  the  rebel  flag,  he  could  recognize  as 
headquarters.  But  he  could  not  readily  find 
the  general's  tent,  concealed,  as  it  was,  among 
the  trees.  Soon,  however,  he  met  one  of  the 
rebels,  wearing  the  shoulder-straps  of  captain, 
and  his  sash  worn  in  the  manner  indicating 
an  "officer  of  the  day."  Hayward  saluted, 
and  asked : 

' '  Will  you  take  me  to  the  general's  tent  ?" 

"You  are  a  stranger  here?"  asked  the  offi- 
cer. 

"Yes." 

"You  come  from  below?" 

"From  below  Springfield — from  Mcintosh." 

"Anything  important?" 

"  Yes,  but  it  is  for  the  general's  ear  first.  If 
he  chooses  to  communicate  with  you,  verj' 
•ffcU  ;  but  I  shall  not!" 

"Oh!  your  pardon,  sir.  You  will  firrd  the 
general's  tent  to  the  right,  on  the  hiU  yonder, 
just  in  the  bdge  of  the  woods.  Ee  is  now  ex- 
amining a  spy — an  Indian ! " 

Hiiy^^'ard  saluted  the  officer,  and  passed  on 
toward  the  spot  indicated.  He  had  proceeded 
but  a  short  distance,  when  he  saw  an  Indian 
dart  froju  among  the  trees,  and  run  as  if  for 
life.  Several  shots  were  instantly  fired  after 
him,  but  without  effect.  It  was  but  an  instant 
before  several  horsemen  appeared,  and  dashed 
after  him  at  a  fm-ious  speed.  They  passed 
Hayward,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

Hayward  passed  on,  and  soon  reached  ihe 
general's  tent.  He  was  informed  by  an  or- 
derly in  attendance  that  Price  had  just  left  in 
piu-suit  of  the  Indian  spy  who  had  just  escaped, 
and  might  be  absent  some  time. 

"  These  red  devils  are  slippery  as  eels,"  said 
fhe  orderly,  "and  I  doubt  if  they  can  overtake 
him." 

"Well,  I  am  in  no  particular  hurry,"  replied 
Hayward.     "I  come  from  Mcintosh  with  mes- 


sages for  the  general,  and  I  wiU  await  his  re- 
turn here." 

"  Then  you  are  a  stranger  in  our  camp?" 

"Yes,  I  have  jiist  arrived!" 

"Well,  sit  do■s\^l.  Take  a  cigar — and  here 
is  some  excellent  brandy.     Help  yourself." 

"You  appear  to  be  well  provided  for,"  said 
Hayward,  lighting  a  cigar. 

"Better  vdih  diink than  anj-thing  else._  But 
I  can  off'er  you  something  to  eat,  such  as  it  is.* 

"Thank  you,  orderly  ;  but  I  was  well  sup- 
plied at  a  farm-house  this  morning.  However, 
I  wiU  di-ink  with  you.     FiU,  and  we  will  drink 

the  general,  and  success  to  our  cause!" 

'I  -wiU  drink  that  in  a  pint  bumper."  said 
_e  orderly,  as  he  drained  his  glass. 

"  That  is  excellent,"  said  Hayward. 

"Take  another." 

"I  don't  care  if  I  do !" 

"Still  another!" 

"I  don't  care  if  I  do!"  replied  Hayward 
again,  in  a  singular  tone. 

"  Oh !  you  have  been  Avith  Mcintosh,  sure," 
said  the  Orderly,  who  made  himself  very  famil- 
iar with  his  new  acquaintance.  He  had  evi- 
dently been  already  veiy  familiar  with  tha 
brandy,  and  was  getting  very  drunk.  "I 
should  know  you  had  drank  with  Mac  many  a 
time.  That  is  always  his  reply,  and  we  use  it 
aU  over  the  camp — Don't  care  if  I  do,"  and 
the  orderly  drained  his  glass  again.  Hayward 
pretended  to  drink. 

"  "UTiat  news  do  you  bring  from  Mac  ?'^  asked 
the  orderly. 

"I  expect  it  is  advice  to  retreat!" 

"Oh!  he  need  not  have  sent  us  that  ad- 
vice!" 

"Why,  I  thought  General  Price  had  deter- 
mined to  make  a  stand  here !" 

"  So  did  I.  But  he  won't  now.  Mum's  the 
word,  you  know,  if  I  tell  you !" 

"Oh!  yes,  mum!"  answered  Hayward  in  a 
confidential  tone. 

"Well,  you  see,  the  general  sent  out  spies 
several  days  ago,  and  he  thought  they  were» 
taken,  or  had  played  him  false,  because  they 
didn't  come  back.  But  they  did  come  thia 
morning  while  the  general  was  absent,  and 
brought  these  papers.  The  general  was  so 
busy  examining  the  Indian,  that  he  did  not 
see  them,  and  I  forgot  to  tell  him  they  wer» 
here." 

"What  do  the  papers  contain?" 

"A  plan  of  the  federal  camp — the  names 
and  description  of  aU  the  principal  officers, 
even  General  Fremont,  and  their  entire  forca 
in  round  numbers — their  guns — kind  of  rifle 
which  the  infantry  use,  and,  in  fact,  all  the 
particulars,  even  to  where  they  post  their 
pickets." 

"Orderly,  do  you  think  we  can  successfully 
contend  with  their  army  ?" 

' '  I  knoio  we  cannot !  They  have  more-  fight- 
ing men  than  we,  and  are  much  better  armed." 

' '  What  shall  you  do,  orderly,  if  Price  does 
make  up  his  mind  to  fight  ?" 

"You  won't  betray  me  ?" 

"Not  if  you  tell  me  in  confidence.'* 
"Well,  then,  before  the  fight  begicuSi  JshaB 
run  like  the  devil,  and  get  out  of  the  way. 

Those  d d  abohtionists  don't  take  me  pria» 

oner,  if  I  can  help  it!" 


18 


THE  BORDEE  SPY  ;   OR  THE 


"Then  you  are  conTinced  Price  ■vrould  bo 
•whipped?" 

"I  knoio  it!" 

"I  am  of  your  opinion,  orderly.  But  Price 
has  determined  to  tight.  Ho  has  gi-eat  confi- 
dence in  his  position  here,  and  thinks  that  he 
can  whip  twice  his  number.  Let  me  look  at 
those  papers ! " 

The  ordcrl}'  passed  the  papers  to  Hayward. 

"Now,  let  me  tell  you,  orderly,  J  think  it  is 
all  folly  for  Price  to  meet  the  federal  anny, 
even  if  he  has  a  strong  position.  You  Icnow 
they  have  sixty — some  say  eighty  thousand 
men,   and  four  hundred  big  gims — and  yet 

Piice  thinks  he    can   successfully  meet 

"WTiat  do  I  see !  Why,  this  paper  states  that 
the  federal  forces  onlj"^  number  thirty  or  thii-ty- 
five  thousand,  and  that  they  have  less  than 
two  hundred  guns !  Oh !  this  is  a  mistake. 
Those  men  who  brought  this  information,  I 
•will  swear,  are  Union  spies,  and  are  decei^ving 
General  Price,  merely  to  get  him  to  fight. 
Now,  I  knotn  the  federals  have  more  men  than 
represented  here,  and  if  Price  has  determined 
to  meet  them  with  their  sixty  thousand,  what 
viiU.  he  do  if  led  to  believe  there  are  only  thirty 
thousand?  ^Yhj,  he  would  advance  at  once 
arid  lead  us  all  to  death. " 

'What  shall  we  do?"  asked  the  orderly, 
evidently  alaimed. 

"Why,  Price  must  not  see  these  papers  I" 

"How  can  it  be  prevented?" 

"  Let  me  keep  them !" 

"But  the  spies  are  do^wn  at  their  tent,  and 
&s  soon  as  the  general  comes,  they  •will  return 
and  tell  him  all. " 

"How  many  are  there?" 

"Onlj'^  two!" 

' '  They  must  not  be  permitted  to  deceive  the 
general,  and  lead  us  all  to  cei-tain  destruction. 
Have  them  arrested  at  once,  and  put  them  in 
the  outer  guard-house — stay,  and  to  prevent 
their  communicating  this  false  information  to 
the  men — as  it  would  soon  reach  Price — have 
them  gagged!"  *> 

"Ivi-ill!"  replied  the  orderly.'^  He  left  the 
tent,  and  soon  retiimed,  saying  : 

"They  seemed  somewhat  surprised  when  I 
told  them  they  were  found  out.  But  they  are 
properly  attended  to." 

"I  do  not  think  that  our  general's  position 
here  is  as  strong  as  he  thinks  it  to  be.  Have 
you  a  dra-ning  of  his  defences  ?"  • 

"Oh!  yes,"  replied  the  orderly.  "Here  is 
one  I  di'ew  for  my  own  gratification." 

"I  wiU  examine  it  at  my  leisure,"  remarked 
Hayward,  as  he  glanced  over  the  paper,  and 
then  placed  it  in  his  pocket.  "But,  now  be 
■very  careful  and  make  no  mi^nticn  of  this  mat- 
ter to  Price.     "What  is  that  ?" 

"That  singing?" 

"Y'es — that  is  an  extraordinary  voice,  and  is 
that  of  a  female!" 

"Oh!  yes — that  is  a  captive  bird.  But,  if 
yo\i  -will  walk  in  that  direction,  I  wlU  in- 
troduce you  to  Captain  Branch,  and  perhajjs 
iou  can  get  an  opportunity  to  converse  with 
er." 

Captain  Hayward  and  the  orderly  left  the 
tent,  and  proceeded  in  the  direction  from 
which  the  sound  emanated.  At  last  Hayward 
paused  and  said  : 


"  By  heaven,  that  "will  never  do  ;  she  is  siixg- 
ing  the  Star-spangled  Banner!" 

"Oh!  she  tciU  do  just  what  she  pleases,  in 
spite  of  any  of  us.  You  had  better  not  say 
anj-thing  to  her  against  that  song,  or  you  •«-ill 
get  more  of  her  tongue  than  •will  be  agreeable 
to  your  feelings. " 

They  paused  before  the  tent,  around  which, 
were  lounging  a  number  of  officei-s.  The  oi>- 
derly  introduced  Hayward  to  Captain  Bnmch, 
and  said : 

' '  The  gentleman  is  Bomewhat  curious  to  boo 
your  beauty." 

' '  He  shall  be  gratified.     Walk  in,  sir ! " 

Both  Branch  and  Haj-^vard  entered  the  tent, 
and  many  of  the  officers  crowded  around  to 
witness  the  introduction. 

"Alibamo — darling — allow  mo  to  present 
you  to  a  friend — an  officer  in  our  army." 

"Present  me  anywhere,  and  to  anyone,  and 
I  ^viU  rejoice,  if  they  •will  okIv  take  their  pres- 
ence out  of  my  sight,"  replied  the  maiden. 
Then  turning  to  Hayward  she  said  : 

"Pardon  me,  sir.  I  did  not  intend  to  ba 
rude  to  you ! " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  pardon,  sweet  lady,"  re- 
plied Hayward  kindly.  "Speak  plainly.  I 
admire  candor,  and  never  •wish  to  constrain 
the  speech  of  any  i^ne — more  especially  a  lady, 
and  one  so  beautiful ! " 

And  beautiful  she  was,  indeed.  Her  form 
was  almost  faii-y-like.  Her  golden  tresses  fell 
upon  a  neck  of  spotless  purity — her  cheeks  so 
clear  that  you  could  almost  see  the  soul  shino 
throiagh  them,  lea'ving  its  tinge  of  beatity  ;  and 
those  eyes  looked  as  if  they  opened  first  in 
heaven,  and  caught  their  brightness  from  & 
seraph's  gaze,  as  flowers  are  fairest  where  the 
sunbeams  falL  But,  •v\hen  she  timicd  that 
gaze  upon  j-ou,  one  could  not  fail  hi  dLscover 
an  expression  of  determination  and  finnnesa 
which  coxild  scarcely  be  expected  in  one  so 
gentle  in  appearance. 

"l''ou  are  inclined  to  flatter,"  she  answered, 
•with  a  smile.  "But  if  you  are  so  -williug 
others  should  express  their  sentiments  •^-ithoui 
restraint,  I  may  hope  you  were  nf>t  offended 
because  I  was  singing  a  favorite  song  of  mina 
when  you  entered  my  tent. " 

"Not  at  all,  dear  lady.  I  should  bo  pleased 
to  listen  to  it  again." 

' '  Would  yoii  ?  Then  you  shaU.  be  gratified ! " 

And  Alibamo,  seizing  her  guitar,  began  th« 
song.  As  she  proceeded,  an  ahnost  deathly 
silence  was  maintained  by  those  aromid. 

What  •tt-as  the  meaning  of  this  silence — this 
apparent  thoughtfulness  ?  TVTiy  did  not  the 
rebel  hordes  compd  this  female  to  cease  her 
Bong  of  treason  to  them !  Ah  !  the  good  old 
times,  when  their  fathers  and  our  o-wa.  were 
fighting  side  hy  side,  ia  freedom's  holj'  name, 
and  under  the  Union  banner's  folds,  came 
freshly  to  the  mind  and  heart  of  each,  and  caus- 
ed them  to  long  for  just  such  times  again,  and 
for  the  glorious  prosperity  which  was  enjoyed 
by  our  country,  while  that  "Star-spangled 
Banner"  waved  free  and  glorious.  They 
thought  of  streams  of  blood — blood •«hich  had, 
and  must  still  flow,  mingled  with  tears — ^hot, 
burning  mother's  tears. 

Perhaps,  too,  they  were  thinking  of  theil 
o^wn  homes,  prosperous  and  happy,  till  trai- 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  REBEL  CAKP. 


19 


tors  arose,  and  striking  down  the  standard 
which  waved  over  them,  planted  in  its  place 
a  treacherous  emblem,  reeking  with  the  pollu- 
tion of  a  bad  cause. 

Or,  psrhaps  they  wero  meditating  a  return 
to  the  dear  old  flag,  but  feared  to  do  so.  Fear 
that  they  might  not,  like  the  prodigal,  be  re- 
ceived with  open  arms,  and  fear  that,  in  the 
outset,  they  would  bo  overpowered  ij-ad  dealt 
with  as  mutineers. 

Oh !  come  back,  deluded,  mistaken  sons  of 
freedom's  soil!  Come  back,  ye  whose  fathers 
shed  their  blood  to  consecrate  our  land  to 
liberty,  for  ever !  Let  your  base  and  calcula- 
ting political  leaders  deceive  y©u  no  more !  Be 
no  longer  tools  for  their  use  and  to  be  only 
used  for  their  aggrandizement !  Como  back 
to  the  country  that  loved  j^ou  and  has  so  long 
given  ycu  its  protection !  Come,  acknowledge 
your  \sTrong — seek  protection  under  our  starry 
flag,  and  fight  for  it.  You  shall  receive  its 
protection,  and  be  once  more  ranked  as  the 
sons  of  Columbia. 

As  she  ceased  singing,  she  turned  to  Hay- 
ward  and  said : 

"  Do  you  not  admire  the  song  ?" 

"laclmii-e  the  singer,  lady,  but  you  must 
excuse  me  if  I  do  not  speak  with  regard  to  the 
sentiment,  before  you." 

"You  admiro  candor.  Why  not  express 
your  sentiments  before  me  ?  You  look  liko  a 
gentleman,  and  I  love  occasionally  to  meet  a 
gentleman,  even  in  the  rebel  ranks." 

"No  doubt  our  view.3  are  different,  lady. 
But  I  trust  we  wiU  not  be  enemies  neverthe- 
less. " 

"AVe  may  not  be  personal  enemies  here. 
But  if  you  ^vill  change  that  uniform  you  wear, 
for  that  of  a  Union  officer,  I  will  promise  that 
we  -wiU  be  friends."    . 

' '  I  could  not  consis^tently  do  so  at  present, 
lady!" 

"Why  not?" 

"AVhen  my  country  is  in  danger,  do  I  not 
share  it  ?  Thus  to  take  this  off,  would  be  to 
endanger  myself  and  my  country's  cause. " 

Ahbamo  gazed  at  Hayward  a  moment,  but 
it  was  met  with  a  look  of  indifference. 

"Yes,  you  are  in  danger.  Y"ou  belong  to 
the  so-called  Southern  confederacy,  and  you, 
with  it,  are  in  danger  of  destruction.  Why  not 
come  back  to  the  Union — the  glorious  old  con- 
federacy. "Why  not  come  back  and  fight  for 
the  cause  your  fathers  died  to  \vin.  Why  not 
fight  under  the  glorious  stars  and  stripes.  See 
/wear  them  as  an  apron,  even  here  in  this 
rebel  camp.  And  I  tore  up  a  confederate  flag 
to  make  this.  The  glorious  stars  and  stripes 
— oh!  how  I  love  them.  Our  fathers  gave 
them  to  us  ptire  and  spotless,  their  stars  glit- 
tering brightly,  and  their  stripes  waving  free. 
If  they  must  be  stained,  it  wUl  bo  by  the  blood 
of  our  fathers'  sons  who  are  fighting  to  replace 
them  on  every  spot  where  they  have  waved,  but 
by  traitorous  hands  been  stricken  down.  And 
they  will  be  placed  there.  They  ^^tU  yet  wave 
over  yoivc  home  and  mine ! " 

"Lady,  you  will  pardon  me,  but  I  cannot 
longer  listen  to  you.  K I  do  not  act  as  I  think  is 
right,  it  will  be  something  new  for  Uarry  Hinton." 

Alibamo  started.  She  trembled  violently, 
but  recovering  her  self-posaession,  she  said : 


"Mr.  Harry  Ulnfon,  I  could  not  accuse  you 
of  dishonor.  Forgive  mo  if  I  have  wounded 
your  feelings  by  being  rude.  And  to  show 
you  my  esteem  for  you — that  is  so  far  as  I  can 
feel  esteem  for  ray  country's  enemy — you  may 
kiss  my  check  at  parting!" 

The  gallant  captain  stepped  forward,  and 
taking  tho  lady  by  the  hand,  the  kiss  echoed 
throughout  the  tent.  But  a  very  close  observer 
would  have  noticed  that  Hayward  kissed  the 
lady  on,  or  very  near,  the  ear ! 

"Adieu!  I  tnist  to  sec  you  again!"  said 
Alibamo,  as  Hayward  left  tha  tent. 

"You  are  fortunate,"  remarked  tho  orderly, 
as  he  proceeded  toward  the  tent  of  Price. 

' '  In  what  particular  ?"  asked  Hay ward- 

"In  winning  that  lady's  heart." 

"Do  you  think  I  have ?" 

"  It  is  very  evident  she  is  smitten  with  you. 
Ah!  here  is  the  general. " 

Hayward  entered  the  tent  of  Price.  The 
general  merely  looked  up,  but  did  not  speak. 

' '  I  come  to  you  from  Mcintosh,  with  infor- 
mation," said  Hayward,  as  he  saluted  tha 
general. 

"Then  you  are  welcome.  Be  seated,  wiH 
3'ou  drink  ?" 

"I  don't  care  if  I  do  ?"  answered  Hayward, 
laughing. 

"That  sounds  natural,"  said  Price.  "But 
how  is  my  friend  Mac  ?" 

"  WeU,  but  very  impatient." 

"Why  is  this?" 

"  I  would  speak  with  you  alone,"  said  Ha^ 
ward,  glancing  toward  the  orderly,  who,  with- 
out waiting  further  notice,  left  the  tent. 

"We  are  alone,"  said  the  general. 

"The  message  sent  is  merely  a  verbal  one, 
and  perhaps  of  no  very  great  importance,  as 
you  may  have  heard  it  from  your  own  scouts. 
But,  it  is  this.  Mcintosh  is  in  constant  com- 
munication with  an  officer  of  the  federal  army. 
He  is  informed  through  him,  that  their 
strength  is  greatly  over  estimated  by  our 
forces  ;  that  their  available  forces,  if  compelled 
to  give  battle  at  once,  will  be  less  than  twenty 
thousand,  and  his  advice  is  to  meet  the  ene- 
my at  once." 

"I  cannot  meet  even  twenty  thousand!" 
said  Price,  despondingly. 

"  Not  in  this  sfeonghold  ?" 

"  Not  even  here,  as  I  must  count  the  chances 
of  defeat.  Should  the  enemy  advance  upon 
us,  they  vnR  attack  us  from  the  rear,  thus  cut- 
ting off  communication,  and  in  case  of  defeat, 
our  situation  would  not  be  a  pleasant  one." 

"  Of  course  you  will  not  meet  them,  unless 
certain  of  success.  Mac  knows  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  enemy,  but  was  not  so 
fuUy  informed  with  regard  to  your  situation. 
He  says,  if  you  thiok  retreat  advisable,  he  wili 
meet  you  at  Springfield. " 

"  Are  you  to  return  ?"  asked  Price, 

"  That  is  as  you  may  direct,  general " 

"  You  will  return  to-morrow,  and  tell  Mac  to 
join  me  at  Cassville.  1  am  not  able  to  get  re- 
liable information  from  AVarsaw,  and  my  camp 
haawoeen  filled  with  the  federal  spies  for  the 
past  three  days.  Two  have  just  escaped  this 
morning.  I  know  that  the  bridge  at  Warsaw 
is  nearly  completed,  and  that  the  enemy  will 
move  in  a  few  days.    I  shall  march  to-morrow, " 


.0 


THE  BOEDES  SPY  :  OR  THE 


' '  It  will  taks  fire  or  six  days  to  reach  Cass- 
ville.  Shall  I  tell  ilac  to  meet  you  immediately 
on  your  arrival  ?*' 

"  Tell  him  to  camp  near  Wilson's  creek,  and 
a'wait  orders.  If  the  army  of  the  federals  ad- 
vance as  they  have  done,  that  is,  only  one  di- 
vision several  days'  march  ahead,  I  shall  attack 
them  at  Springfield.  I  was  a  fool  that  I  did  not 
meet  them  at  Warsaw,  when  they  were  thus 
situated. " 

"Fremont  vnH  be  in  the  advance,  I  sup- 
pose ?" 

"  Yes,  with  his  fiamous  body-guard,  and  the 
division  imder  Sigel,  in  all  about  eight  thou- 
sand. I  long  to  meet  Sigel  again,  and  that 
famous  body-guard. " 

' '  I  believe  the  friend  of  Mac  is  an  officer  in 
a  battalion  also  acting  as  the  body-guard  of 
Fremont. " 

'  •  What  battalion  is  that  ?"  asked  Price. 

' '  I  believe  they  are  called  the  Benton  cadets. " 

"Ah!  yes.  I  am  expecting  a  messenger 
here  every  mcjment,  with  the  description  of  all 
the  officers  Jittached  to  Fremont,  and  among 
them  is  a  captain  belonging  to  the  cadets, 
whom  I  am  anxious  to  meet." 

"  "What  is  his  name  ?"  asked  Hayward. 

"  His  name  is  Harry  Hayward  !  senior  cap- 
tain of  the  battalion. " 

"  Why  do  you  vdsh  to  meet  Inm  more  than 
any  other  officer  ?"' 

"Because  I  met  him  once  face  to  face,  and 
he  taunted  me!" 

"  Did  he  know  you,  general  ?" 

"No,  he  did  not  dream  who  I  was." 

"  "Where  did  you  meet  him  '?" 

"It  v>-as  at  a  farm-house,  beyond  Warsaw. 
I  was  there  in  disguise.  This  captain  rode  up 
and  asked  for  a  cup  of  water,  and  as  I  was 
standing  at  the  weU,  I  gave  it  to  him.  I  asked 
the  sti'ength  of  the  ai-my,  and  he  replied  that 
they  were  much  stronger  than  there  was  any 
occasion  for.  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  Price 
would  not  fight,  and  he  replied  that  the  rebel 
army  might  possibly  be  induced  to  meet  us  if 
they  had  a  decent  general,  but  with  such  a 
d — d  cowardly  old  fool  as  Price  for  their  lead- 
er, we  should  never  catch  them. " 

"  Wo'old  yoi  know  him  again  if  you  should 
meet  him  ?"  asked  Hayward,  with  apparent  in- 
difference. 

"  I  do  not  think  that  I  should.  He  had  been 
riding  during  the  whole  of  that  day,  and  was 
so  completely  covered  TOth  dust  that  his  fea- 
tures were  not  visible.  But  when  one  of  my 
men  returns,  he  will  have  his  exact  descrip- 
tion. I  instmcted  biTn  to  be  particular  about 
this  officer." 

"  How  did  yoTi  asceiiain  who  he  was,  at  the 
time  you  met  him  ?" 

"  "^liile  I  was  conversing  with  him,  the  ad- 
jutant rode  up  and  handed  hirn  a  letter.  He 
opened  it  and  threw  the  envelope  on  the 
ground.  I  picked  it  up,  and  thus  learned  who 
he  was." 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  time,  until 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  was  passed  in  or- 
dinary conversation.  Hayward  did  not  care  to 
show  himself  about  camp.  He  well  knew  that 
the  guard-house  held  two  prisoners,  boiuid  and  , 
gauged  by  his  order,  and  accused  of  being  i 
spies  from  tho  federals,  who  were  in  reality ' 


rebel  spies,  and  true  to  their  cause.  He  knew 
they  had  both,  or  at  least  one  of  them,  seen 
him,  and  would  recognize  him  at  once.  He 
had  his  own  description  in  his  pocket,  v,  ritten 
by  one  of  them,  which  had  by  the  merest 
chance  been  prevented  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  Price.  However,  time  passed  on, 
and  nothing  like  6u.spicion  was  manifested, 
that  Hayward  was  not  just  what  he  represented 
himself.  Kine  o'clock  came.  Thd  counter- 
sign was  out,  which  the  general  readily  gave 
to  Hayward-  Tattoo  had  scaicely  ceased 
sounding,  v.hen  a  sergeant  appeared  at  the 
tent-entrance  and  said  : 

"General,  one  of  the  prisoners  accused  of 
being  a  spy,  wi^es  to  see  you.  He  says  hia 
information  is  of  vast  importance." 

"I  know  of  no  person  charged  with  being  a 
spy  whom  we  have  as  prisoner !  But  it  is  pos- 
sible some  of  the  morning  prowlers  have  been 
caught" 

"  He  says  he  came  direct  from  Warsaw  where 
you  had  sent  him. " 

"Sti-ange!"  said  Price,  musing.  "  TeU 
him  I  will  be  at  tho  guard-house  in  an  hour. 
Stay.     Bring  him  to  my  tent  at  ten  o'clock." 

The  sergeant  departed.  ^ 

' '  Will  you  excuse  me  a  moment  ?"  s^d  Price, 
turning  to  Hayward.     "I  have  letters  to  write." 

"Certainly!"  said  Haj^ward  as  he  left  the 
tent 

Hayward  walked  leisurely  along,  until  he 
reached  the  outer  guard-house.  He  was  here 
challenged,  and  giving  the  countersign,  passed 
out.  He  proceeded  rapidly  to  the  place  where 
his  friends  awaited  him,  and  found  them  all 
ready  for  orders,  and  for  action. 


CHAPTER  TI. 

Tlie  Escape — The  Pursuit — The  Capture. 

Charge — charge,  Iioj"e,  for  "  God  anil  for  liberty !"'     See! 

Their  traitorous  banner  ij  hurled  to  the  ground, 
And  up  go  our  colors,  the  "  Flag  of  the  Free,"' 

WhUc  our  bands  atrike  "  Columbia,"  oh !  glorious  sound. 

Col.  yf'ccti. 

"DxRy  my  buttons  if  the  captain  ain't  got 
back  all  safe  ! "  shouted  Nettieton,  as  he  faiiiy 
danced  with  delight. 

"Y'es,  aU  safe,"  replied  Hayward-  "But 
how  have  you  passed  the  day,  Adjutant  Hin- 
ton?" 

"Not  at  all  pleasantiy!"  replied  the  adju- 
tant "We  have  had  serious  anxiety  on  your 
account,  and  I  suppose  we  came  very  near 
being  discovered !" 

' '  Lideed !     WTiy  so  ?" 

"You  had  been  absent  just  long  enough  to 
reach  camp,  when  we  heard  the  firing  of  guns. 
In  a  short  time  a  party  of  horsemen  rode  past 
at  a  furious  rate,  cm-sing  and  speaking  of  a 
spy.  We  feared  you  had  been  discovered, 
were  making  your  escape,  and  that  they  were 
in  pursuit. " 

'  •  What  did  you  do  ?" 

"  Of  course  I  advised  oui-  friends  to  remain 
quiet.  I  thought  if  we  were  to  appear  and 
fight  you  would  reach  us  in  some  way,  or  give 
us  some  signal.  But  it  was  veiy  difficult  to  re- 
strain Nettieton.  He  detennined  to  rush  upon 
the  pursuers,  and  once  had  his  gun  raised  to 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  EEi^fcL  CAMP. 


21 


fire  npon  ticm,  but  I  prevented  him  from  doing 
so." 

"I  am  veiy  mxich  obliged  to  yoii  for  your 
good  feeling,  and  admire  j'our  courage.  But, 
you  must  not  be  rash.  If  you  had  fired  a  gun, 
it  would  have  brought  certain  destruction  upon 
U3  all." 

"Well,  captain,  you  see  I  ■wouldn't  have 
done  it,  but  I  was  feared  that  black  rascal  there 
■would  expose  us  all.  The  cui"se  began  to  cry 
just  as  soon  as  he  heerdthe  guns  shootin',  and 
■when  the}',  let  off  that  volley  up  at  that  rock 
there,  the  darned  sneak's  bones  rattled  so,  I 
was  sui'e  they  v.-orJd  hear  them. " 

"But,  how  have  you  succeeded,  captain?" 
asked  the  adjutant. 

"  Oh !  admii-ably.  That  party  you  saw  was 
led  by  Price  himself.  E3  was  in  pursuit  of  an 
Indian.  He  left  camp  just  as  I  arrived  at  his 
tent,  and  this  gave  me  just  the  opportmiity  I 
desired.  There  was  no  person  at  the  general's 
tent  but  an  orderly,  who  became  veiy  famihar 
and  communicative.  He  gave  me  the  exact 
plan  of  their  encampment,  but  it  will  be  of 
little  use,  as  Price  taJies  up  his  Line  of  march 
for  Cass'ville  to-mon-ow.  But  the  most  impor- 
tant document  I  possess  is  the  plan  of  our  o^vn 
camp,  containing  not  only  my  own  description, 
but  I  suppose  that  of  yours,  and  of  all  the  gen- 
erals, and  other  principal  officers  in  our  army." 

"How  did  you  get  xjossessiou  of  this  docu- 
ment ?" 

"  It  was  brought  to  the  tent  of  Price  by  his 
spies  while  he  was  absent.  I  learned  from  the 
orderly  that  the  general  did  not  know  the  ex- 
istence of  the  paper,  or  that  his  spies  had  re- 
turned. So  I  worked  upon  the  fears  of  the 
orderly,  got  j)ossesaiou  of  the  paper,  and  his 
promise  not  to  let  Price  know  anji;hing  about 
it,  and  then  ordered  the  men  who  brought  it 
to  be  put  in  the  guard-house  and  gagged.  Of 
course  I  accused  them  of  playing  false  to  Price, 
and  of  being  in  reality  Union  spies." 

"  Of  course  the  trick  will  be  discovered!" 

"  Oh !  certainly — and  I  suppose  it  is  by  this 
time,  as  one  of  the  prisoners  sent  for  Price, 
and  he  was  to  meet  him  at  ten  o'clock.  For  a 
short  time  they  will  ba  puzzled.  The  question 
■will  be  asked  the  orderly,  what  he  did  ■with  the 
papers,  and  he  ■will  answer  that  he  gave  them 
to  me.  But,  when  Price  learns  that  it  was  me 
who  ordered  his  spies  under  arrest,  and  gagged 
so  that  they  could  not  speak,  that  I  have  the 
papers,  that  my  story  to  him  and  the  orderly 
did  not  agree,  and  that  I  am  nowhere  to  be 
fovmd,  he  ■will  sea  at  once  that  he  has  been 
terribly  sold,  and  know  that  I  was  a  spy.  If 
he  describes  my  person,  I  %vill  be  at  once  rec- 
ognized by  one  of  the  men  whom  I  had  i^laced 
xmder  arrest,  as  the  very  man  Price  longed  to 
get  in  his  grasp ! " 

,  "Whj'-,   what  does  Price  know  of   you?" 
asked  the  adjutant. 

"Do  you  remember  our  second  day's  march 
from  Tipton,  that  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  I  was  stopping  at  a  log-house,  near 
a  wellj  at  the  right  of  the  road,  and  that  while 
the  person  who  appeared  to  be  master  of  the 
house  was  helping  me  to  a  cup  of  water,  you 
rode  up  and  gave  me  a  letter  ?" 

"Yes,  I  remember  it  perfectly  well,  and  that 
you  remarked  the  letter  was  from  Liamie." 


"Exactly.  And  do  you  recollect  the  words 
I  used  about  Price,  to  the  man  who  gave  me 

the  water  ?" 

"I  remember  they  were  not  very  compli- 
mentary." 

' '  Well,  the  man  who  handed  me  that  cup  of 
water  was  Price  himself!" 

"  The  de^vil !  And  did  he  not  recognize  you 
to-day  ?" 

' '  No,  for  he  spoke  of  Captain  Hayward,  and 
remarked  that  he  had  an  account  to  settle  with 
him,  and  had  sent  for  his  description,  which 
he  expected  every  moment.  I  had  it  in  my 
pocket  at  the  time,  and  those  v.'ho  took  it  were 
under  arrest  by  my  order.  They  would  have 
recognized  me  in  an  instant  if  they  had  seen 
me.  The  reason  that  Price  did  not  recogniza 
me  was,  that  when  he  saw  me  at  the  well,  I 
was  almost  black  ■with  dust,  and  I  took  pains 
to-day  to  change  the  tone  of  my  voice  as  miich 
as  possible. " 

' '  It  was  a  terrible  risk ! " 

"By  gracious,  captain,  if  you.ain't  a  trump," 
said  Nettleton,  as  he  opened  •wide  his  green 
eyes. 

"But  they  have  discovered  all  by  this  time, 
and  we  have  not  a  moment  to  lose.  It  is  eleven 
o'clock  now,  and  you  are  expected  at  yonder 
rock ! " 

"  You  have  seen  Alibamo  ?" 

•'  Yes,  and  kissed  her!" 

"  She  knew  you,  then  ?" 

"No — she  didn't — I  told  her  before  a  larga 
crowd  that  I  was  Harrj'  Hinton.  She  imder- 
stood  me,  and  said  I  might  kiss  her.  I  did  so 
— on  the  ear!" 

"And  whispered  at  the  same  time.  Thank 
you,  my  best  friend. "  »■, 

"Well,  don't  stop  for  thanks  now.  That 
rock  is  outside  the  picket  guard,  but  she  ■will 
be  attended  by  ten  or  twelve  soldiers.  Go  to 
her  at  once.  I  ■will  see  our  horses  placed  in  a 
position  where  we  can  easily  mount.  The 
negro  shall  ride  behind  Nettleton,  and  Ali- 
bamo shall  have  White  Surry." 

"We  must  fight,  of  course." 

"I  think  it  ■will  not  be  necessary — thatia, 
only  you  and  I!" 

' '  What  do  you  mean,  captain  ?" 

"Why,  her  guard  have  all  seen  you,  and  by 
your  owTQ  story,  they  think  you  a  lover,  al- 
though not  altogether  a  favored  one.  I  hava 
met  the  beauty  to-day — they  have  aU  seen  me. 
They  saw  me  kiss  her,  and  think,  that  for  a 
short  acquaintance,  I  am  a  remarkably  favored 
lover.  You  are  a  private,  and  I  am  an  officer, 
and  in  that  particular,  of  course,  have  the  ad- 
vantage. I  will  come  upon  you,  after  you 
have  conversed  a  few  moments,  and  take  the 
lady  under  my  protection.  Her  guard  wiU.  be 
much  more  likely  to  permit  me  to  walk  with 
the  lady  alone  than  you,  as  I  am  an  officer  in 
favor  ^vith  the  general.  Once  near  oiu:  horses, 
we  have  nothing  to  fear,  and  none  of  her 
guard  are  moimted.  Now  p'^  Harry.  If  we 
must  fight,  all  right." 

As  Adjutant  Hinton  started  for  the  rock. 
Captain  Hayward  directed  that  the  horses  be 
brought  into  the  main  pathway.  It  was  done, 
and  aU  was  in  readiness. 

As  Harry  reached  the  rock,  Alibamo  sprang 
forward  to  receive  him. 


32 


THE  BOEDER  SPY ;  OP.  THE 


"Let  your  action  be  constrained — do  not 
embrace  me — and  speak  lev.-,  d>-ar  Alibamo. 
The  reason  for  this,  you  \^'ill  discover  pres- 
ently. " 

"I know  you  have  good  cause  for  this  re- 
quest, my  o^^•n  Harry,  but  I  must  tell  you  how 
I  love  you!"  replied  Alibamo,  as  she  bowed 
her  head  upon  the  breast  of  her  lover.  "But 
I  have  been  here  an  houi- — and  I  sang,  in  the 
hope  you  would  hear  my  voice. " 

Some  words  of  tenderness  passed  between 
the  lovers,  when  Alibamo  cried  : 

"What  is  that?" 

It  was  at  this  moment  that  the  brother  of 
Alibamo,  as  narrated  in  the  second  chapter, 
creeping  near  the  rock,  had  overheard  her 
words,  and  had  cried,  "  Then  you  are  not  my 
sister ! " 

" It  is  my  brother!  my  own  brother's  voice. 
He  has  been  near — has  heard  all!"  shrieked 
Alibamo.  Then  checking  herself,  she  said,  in 
a  low  tone  :  "  He  thinks  you  a  rebel,  Harry ! 
He  forswears  me!  How  can  I  undeceive 
him?" 

"The  guard  has  fiired  upon  him.  The  camp 
ia  aroused — they  are  beating  the  long-roll.  It 
is  a  desperate  hazard  now  1" 

"But  my  brother  ?" 

"  Quick — give  me  your  apron — I  will  wave 
it — he  may  see  its  colors— and  sing — sing,  Ali- 
bamo— sing  the  Star-spangled  Banner!" 

Harry  seized  the  apron,  and  commenced 
waving  it,  and  Alibamo  began  to  sing. 

"Silence!"  cried  HayT\'ard,  who  came  up 
at  that  moment.  "Silence  that  traitorous 
Bong.  And  give  me  that  ensign  of  abolition- 
ism. For  shame,  young  man.  Love  has  made 
you  blind.  Don't  you  see  that  the  lady's  apron 
which  you  are  waving  is  a  federal  flag  ?  It 
inay  be  very  romantic  to  meet  j'oung  ladies 
at  midnight  on  a  moonlit-rock,  and  whisper 
love-tales  ;  but  you,  sir,  must  not  wave  such 
things  as  this,  merely  to  conciliate  angrj'  broth- 
ers. Now,  go  to  camp,  sir,  and  if  I  catch  you 
at  such  tricks  again,  I  shall  order  your  arrest. 
I  will  take  charge  of  the  lady. " 

"  Here  are  her  guard,  sir,"  said  Harry,  in  a 
subdued  tone. 

"Ah!  yes.     Are  you  mounted,  boys  ?" 

"No,  captain." 

"Then  get  within  the  lines  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  federal  army  are  advancing, 
and  are  within  a  few  miles  of  us,  and  their 
scouts  are  but  a  short  distance  from  this 
point.  I  have  a  horse,  and  will  make  my 
servant  dismount  and  criyp  the  lady  his 
horse ! " 

"  All  right,  captain,"  replied  the  sergeant  in 
command  of  the  squad.  He  had  seen  Hay- 
ward  that  day  several  times,  and  had  no  doubt 
he  was  just  what  he  appeared. 

Hayn-ard  had  brought  his  own  horse  and 
that  rode  by  Nettleton,  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  spot  where  he  was  then  standing.  The  ad- 
jutant had  already  disappeared,  as  the  captain 
handed  the  lady  into  the  saddle  and  mounted 
Ms  own  horse.  As  he  turned  into  the  main 
road,  a  mounted  orderly  from  the  camp  rode 
up  to  the  squad  and  asked  : 

"Have  you  seen  that  fellow  who  was  around 
camp  to-day  and  pretended  to  be  from  lilcln- 
tosh — the  one  that  kissed  iiUibamo  ?  ' 


"Yes,  there  he  is,  just — why  he  is  going 
from  the  camp  instead  of  toward  it ! " 

"It  is  Captain  Harrj-  Haj'wtu'd,  of  the  fed- 
eral army,  and  a  spy.     Fire  upon  him  ! " 

A  discharge  of  musketry  rang  through  the 
woods,  but  the  captain  and  his  charge  were 
I  too  well  covered  by  the  trees  and  the  dark- 
ness to  be  injured  by  it. 

Captain  Haj'ward  heard  the  question,  and 
I  striking  his  horse  with  the  spur,  he  dashed 
i  forward  at  a  rapid  rate,  followed  by  the  whole 
party. 

"  The  story  I  told  the  guard  of  the  advan- 
cing army,"  said  Hayward,  "  will  prevent  an 
immediate  pursuit.  13ut  Price  ■will  know  it  ia 
not  true,  and  in  an  hour  we  shall  be  hotly  fol- 
lowed.   We  must  make  the  best  of  our  time !" 

The  company  did  not  pause  for  more  than 
five  hours,  as  it  was  daylight  when  the  first 
halt  was  made.  They  had  scarcely  dismount- 
ed when  the  echoes  of  horses'  feet  were  heard 
in  the  distance. 

"We  are  pursued,  but  we  must  press  for- 
ward. Those  sounds  cannot  be  more  than  a 
mile  in  the  rear.  They  must  have  ridden  very 
rapidly.  But  wo  ■will  escape  them  without 
difficulty.  We  cannot  be  more  than  ten  miles 
from  our  outposts,  and  they  ■will  not  dare  pur- 
sue us  much  farther. "  They  had  scarcely  pre- 
pared to  set  off  again,  when  Nettleton  said  : 

"There  come  the  skunks  that  went  after 
the  powder ! " 

It  was  true.  In  the  opposite  direction  came 
the  party  of  twenty.  liehind,  they  were  fol- 
lowed by  they  knew  not  how  large  a  force, 
and  before,  twenty  rebels  were  apjiroaching. 
^Vhether  they  could  be  so  easily  misled  tlua 
time,  was  a  matter  of  considerable  doubt. 

' '  Quick — ride  for  the  wood.  Miss  Alibamo. 
You  may  save  yourself — we  must  fight.  Stay ! 
They  see  you.  It  ■wiU  be  too  late  ;  besides, 
we  met  this  party  once  before,  and  they  may 
not  intemipt  us  at  aU.  That  which  I  fear 
most  is,  that  they  "will  detain  us  so  long  in 
convei-sation  that  the  rear  party  'will  overtake 
us.     But  we  must  venture. " 

' '  They  "will  know  me,  captain, "  said  Alibamo. 

"K  a  fight  is  ine'vitable,  Alibamo,  do  you 
start  for  the  river.  "VSTiite  Surry  can  sv.im — 
he  is  accustomed  to  it.  Plunge  in — give  him 
a  loose  rein,  and  ho  ■will  bear  you  safely  to 
the  opposite  shore.  Then  ride  rapidly  for 
camp.     They  are  upon  us. " 

"Well,  captain,  the  army  is  mo^ving,  is  it 
not  ?"  asked  Haj-ward. 

"  A^Tiat  army  V"  was  the  sullen  question. 
"Why,  our  army  moves  to-day — or  at  least 
the  general  so  informed  me  ;  but  I  speak  of 
the  federal  army.  The  general  received  infor- 
mation last  night  that  Fremont  would  cross 
the  river  to-day  at  four  o'clock.  And  I  was 
sent  to  ascertain  if  this  was  so  ! " 

"Indeed !  And  do  you  usually  take  women 
■with  you  when  you  act  as  spies  ?" 

"  Not  usually.  But  I  thought  my  icife  could 
gain  admittance  to  the  camp  much  more  easily 
than  a  man ! " 

' '  Your  vdte.  Bah !  Very  likely  the  general 
would  let  her  go,  when  he  knows  she  passes 
half  her  time  singing  the  Star-sijangled  Ban- 
ner, and  weara  the  federal  flag  as  an  apron  1 
She  would  betray  us  all,  and  never  return." 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  KEBEL  CAMP. 


23 


"Look  yon,  sir!"  said  Hayward  sternly,  "I 
don't  intend  to  hold  any  argument  with  you, 
and  I  will  not  listen  to  any  insults  or  insinua- 
tions. I  married  Alibamo  last  evening.  She 
was  an  old  friend,  and  \vill  hereafter  adhere 
strictly  to  my  cause  and  adopt  my  principles. 
You  see,  she  no  longer  weai'S  the  flag  as  an 
apron ! " 

"I  see  it!" 

"And  when  approaching  the  federal  camp, 
do  you  suppose  she  would  take  it  off,  unless  it 
was  of  her  o^\^l  accord '?" 

"I  don't  know.  But  I  dj  want  to  know 
about  that  powder.  When  we  got  there,  we 
found  the  powder  gone,  and  a  squad  ready  to 
receive  us.  We  had  to  s-nim  the  river  to  get 
awaj',  and,  as  it  was,  two  of  our  own  party  were 
killed.  Hello !  There  comes  another  party, 
headed  by  Branch.     It  may  be  all  right,  but 

d n  me  if  I  dm't  hold  you  till  they  come 

up,  because  I  believe  you  are  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  abolition  spies,  and  that  the  man 
you  sent  back  after  yoiir  revolver,  went  direct 
to  Fremont  and  infonned  about  the  pow- 
der!" 

Ha  had  scarcely  finished  these  words,  when 
Nettleton's  gun  came  crashing  on  his  head, 
and  the  brains  flew  in  eveiy  direction.  He  fell 
from  his  horse,  dead.  The  attack  now  com- 
menced in  earnest,  but  it  had  been  so  sudden 
on  the  part  of  the  att:\cking  party,  that  eleven 
of  the  rebels  bit  the  dust  before  the  party  had 
sufficiently  recovered  from  surprise  to  make 
any  effective  defence. 

"Quick,  Alibamo  ;  to  the  river — save  your- 
self— they  are  upon  us!"  shouted  Hayward. 

The  first  attacking  party  had  been  entirely 
scattered  by  the  lightning  blows  dealt  by  the 
little  Union  band,  bat,  as  they  saw  the  ap- 
proach of  at  lea;jt  fifty  other  horsemen,  they 
rallied  for  another  charge.  The  horses  of  Hay- 
ward and  his  party  were  worn  and  jaded — so 
were  those  of  his  pursuers,  while  those  of  the 
fellen  foe  were  fresh. 

"Spring  into  the  saddles  of  those  fresh 
horses — ride  for  your  lives — quick ! " 

It  was  accomplished  in  an  instant.  The  ap- 
proaching party  were  now  only  a  few  yards 
from  the  devoted  band,  when  a  shot  was  fired, 
and  with  a  groan  Captain  Hayward  fell  to  the 
the  ground.  In  an  instant,  Adjutant  Hinton 
was  by  his  side. 

"Captain — O  God! — captain — speak!"  he 
he  cried.     "Are  you  hurt?" 

"Here — these  papers — take  them — go— go 
— save  yourself ! " 

" Never— never ! "  he  cried.  "Come  on,  ye 
fiends — -I  -win.  sell  my  Hfe  dearly — I  will  die 
with  my  captain!" 

"No — no!  Alibamo — save  her — those  pa- 
pers— go,  I  command — I  am  mortally  hurt — 
save  yourselves — you  cannot  benefit  me !" 

"You  may  live!" 

"Then  go,  and  return  to  rescue  me — oh!" 
And  Hayward  spoke  no  more. 

"  Or  to  avenge  your  death ! "  cried  Hinton, 
as  he  sprang  into  his  saddle  and  darted  from 
the  spot,  amid  a  shower  of  buUets,  bearing  the 
papers  u-ith  him. 

In  an  instant  Hayward  was  surrounded,  but 
they  could  not  overtake  the  fljdng  party,  who 
had  the  advantage  of  fresh  horses. 


CHAPTER  YIL 

The  Brother — The  War  Scimt — The  Union  Ca-rvp 
—  The  Trail. 

Find  them — bring  them  back — then  ask  for  niUliona. 

Old  Play. 

"When  William  Margrave,  the  brother  of 
Alibamo,  had  been  discovered,  and  fired  upon 
by  the  guard,  after  having  seen  his  sister,  and 
heard  her  voice,  he  knew  that  his  assistance 
would  be  of  no  avail.  He  at  once  started  for 
the  cabin  M'here  were  his  friends  Johnson  and 
Fall-leaf,  but  not  until  he  had  seen  Ahbamo 
mount  her  horse,  and,  with  her  friend,  da.sh 
forward  from  the  camp.  He  saw  the  soldiers 
as  they  fii'ed  after  the  retreating  form  of  his 
sister  and  her  friend,  and  also  saw  that  they 
were  uiihurt. 

"It  is  a  rescue  ;  stUl,  I  cannot  understand 
it — I  cannot  conceive  how  she  came  to  meet 
friends  from  the  Union  army,  or  how  they  be- 
came aware  of  her  presence  in  the  rebel  camp. " 

He  pui-sued  his  course  to  the  river,   and 
crossing,  soon  reached  the  cabin.     As  he  en- 
red,  Johnson  rose  to  receive  him. 

"Your  return  is  sudden.  What  has  h?.p- 
pened?"  he  asked. 

"AU  for  the  best!" 
'Explain," 

' '  It  teas  my  sister's  voice  that  I  heard.  I 
saw  her — I  spoke  to  her. " 

"  Could  you  not  save  her  ?" 

"I  would  have  done  so,  or  died  by  her  side. 
But  she  had  other  friends  with  her.  I  saw  her 
with  two  men,  one  of  them  disguised  as  a  rebel 
officer.  Or,  at  least,  so  I  suppose,  for  he  led  her 
to  a  horse,  helped  her  to  mount,  and  rode  rap- 
idly away,  while  the  guard  who  had  just  come 
up,  fired  after  them.  She  is  on  her  way  to  the 
Union  camp,  and  will  reach  it  in  a  short  time, 
if  nothing  happens. " 

"Are  5^ou  sure  those  who  rescued  her  were 
Union  soldiers  ?" 

"I  can  only  judge  by  what  I  saw." 

"What  do  you  intend  doing?" 

"How  is  Fall-leaf  ?"  asked  Margrave. 

"Me  well — well!"  answered  the  Indian. 

"Why,  how  is  this  ?  I  thought  Fall-leaf  waa 
badly  wounded." 

"No!  his  wounds  are  slight.  That  in  his 
breast  or  side,  is  merely  a  flesh-wound.  The 
shot  struck  a  rib,  and  glanced  off.  A  second 
shot  struck  him  near  the  temple,  and  stunned 
him.     But  he  is  not  seriously  injured." 

"Can  he  walk?" 

"Me  walk — well!"  replied  FaU-leaf^  as  he 
arose  and  strode  across  tiie  room. 

"Then  we  must  go  at  once  to  the  federaJ 
camp.     Can  you  walk  so  far.  Fall-leaf  ?" 

"  Me  go  down — horse — there !" 

"  He  has  a  horse  concealed  among  the  trees, 
but  a  short  distance  down  the  river,  and  on 
this  side,"  replied  Johnson. 

"Have  you  never  entertained  any  suspicion 
that  my  sister  was  with  Price  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes.  But  Price  has  never  placed  any 
confidence  in  me,  and  never,  except  at  this 
last  visit,  have  I  been  permitted  to  enter,  or 
leave  camp,  without  the  presence  of  a  guard. " 

"  Well,  let  us  be  off.  We  must  keep  on  this 
side  of  the  river  to  avoid  scouts. " 


S4 


THE  BORDER  SPY  :    OR  THE 


The  party  -walkea  aown  to  the  bank  of  the 
Osage,  and  striking  a  narrow  path,  took  their 
course  toward  Warsaw.  The  Indian  secured 
his  horse,  and  mounting,  rode  by  the  side  of 
his  friends. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  they  reach- 
ed the  Uni(3n  camp.  The  first  thing  Margrave 
did  upon  his  arrival  was  to  acquaint  the  gen- 
eral with  all  the  particulars,  and  requested  to 
be  shown  tho.io  officers  or  soldiers  who  had 
that  day  returned  from  the  rebcl'camp,  in  the 
hope  of  finding  his  sister.  He  was  directed  to 
Adjutant  Hinton,  and  with  a  beating  heart  he 
sought  his  presence.  He  foimd  the  adjutant 
in  deep  grief,  but  he  arose  to  receive  him. 

"  \\Tiy,  you  are  the  officer  whom  I  saw  stand- 
ing upon  the  rock  with  my  sister,"  said  Mar- 
grave. 

"  Then  you  are  the  brother  of  Alibamo  ?" 

"I  am." 

"Do  you  know  where  she  is?" 

"Where  she  is?"  echoed  Margrave,  with 
sui-prise.  "Why,  I  came  here  to  learn  where 
she  is!" 

"Ah!  yes.  Well,  my  fiiend,  I  am  deeply 
distressed  with  regard  to  your  sister.  She 
should  havo  been  here  before  this." 

' '  Why,  did  she  not  leave  with  you  ?" 

"She  started  with  myself  and  friends,  but 
we  were  met  by  overwhelming  numbers  about 
ten  miles  from  this  place,  and  a  terrible  fight 
ensued.  Our  captain  was  killed,  or  very  badlj' 
•wotmded,  and  our  party  scattered.  I  saw  Ali- 
bamo  riding  for  the  river,  intending  to  swim 
her  horse  across  it.  Tho  captain  fell,  and  I 
turned  to  rescue  him.  Ho  was  nearly  gone, 
but  told  me  to  savo  myself  and  Alibamo. 
That  name  acted  like  a  magic,  and,  coward 
that  I  was,  I  left  my  captain,  and  sought  her. 
But,  I  could  not  find  her — neither  any  of  my 
friends.  I  ret^u•ned  to  camp  alone !  Oh  !  my 
God,  if  I  had  only  remained,  and  died  with 
them ! " 

George,  the  negro,  now  entered  the  tent. 
His  countenance  was  the  very  index  of  terror. 

"George,  are  they  alive?"  almost  shrieked 
the  adjutant. 

"  Oh !  yes — yes — Gror  a  mighty,  massa  adju- 
tump — day's  fifty  ob  em !" 

The  adjutant  saw  the  negro  was  too  much 
frightened  to  give  any  correct  account,  and  he 
tried  to  reassure  him. 

"  You  arc  safe  now.  Xothing  can  harm  you 
here." 

"Sartin  shuah  ob  dat,  massa  adjutump?" 

"Sui-e,  Gejrge.  But  now  tell  me  what  you 
know  of  our  friends. " 

' '  Oh !  golly  massa  adjutump,  dis  chile  neber 
\n3  6o  skeered.     Dar  was  fifty. " 

•'TVTaere  is  Captain  Haj'T;\-ard ! " 
•    ' '  Killed — dead — shuah  pop — oh !  golly ! "' 

"Where  is  .aptain  Young?" 

'He's  here,  massa  adjutump." 

Captain  Young  entered  the  tent. 

"You  are  alive  ;  but  where  are  our  friends  ?" 
asked  the  adjutant. 

' '  I  know  not,  I  lost  sight  of  them,  and  sup- 
posed them  aU  killed  but  myself." 

' '  George,  where  is  Nettleton  ?" 

"I  dun  know.  De  las  time  dis  chile  see 
Cap'n  Nettletnm  hs  jump  Ms  hos  in  the  riber 
after  do  gal,  0  Lord ! " 


'  '"^Tiat  became  of  the  lady,  George  ?* 

"  Oh !  golly  I  massa  adjutiimp,  she's  safe  wid 
do  rebels ! " 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  Why,  ye  see,  massa  adjutump,  when  dis 
chile  Bee  de  caji'n  fall  down  deac^  he  was  so 
skeered  he  tumble  rite  off  his  horse.  So  I 
creep  into  de  bushes,  and  just  as  de  gal  she  got 
to  de  riber,  a  big  black  debil  he  cotch  hold  on 
hir  an  say,  '  Ha !  ha !  now  I  got  hold  on  you, 
my  booty,'  and  den  he  tuck  her  off  an  dis 
chile  didn't  see  her  no  more. " 

"She  is  agiun  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
and  we  must  again  rescue  her,  even  if  it  costs 
a  thousand  lives.  Oh!  WTctch — %^Tetch  that  I 
am — I  have  murdered  my  captain,  and  have 
not  saved  her ! " 

"Please  don't,  massa  adjutump!" 

"Don't  what?" 

"Why,  don't  take  dis  chile  \\id  you  any 
more.     He  get  killed,  shuah." 

"  Don't  be  alarmed.     I  don't  want  you." 

"Me  go  see — me  follow,"  said  the  Indiaru 

"  Go  where?" 

' '  After  pale-face ! " 

"How  can  you  ascertain  which  way  they 
have  taken  her  ?" 

The  Indian  made  the  motion  of  creeping  on 
the  ground.  Then  he  stamped  it  \dth.  his  foot, 
and  pointed  to  the  mark.     Johnson  said  : 

"Ho  means  he  will  go  to  the  river  where 
Alibamo  was  seized,  take  the  measure  of  the 
horse's  shoe,  from  its  impression  in  the  sand, 
and  follow  the  trail.  We  XNill  go  vith  him — 
that  is  myself  and  Alibamo's  brother. " 

"/must  go.  But  staj'.  Nettlet-'n  ha.s  not 
yet  returned,  I  have  great  confidence  in  thai 
fellow.     He  may  bring  us  intelligence." 

"You  had  biitter  remain  here  in  the  event 
of  liis  return,"  said  Margi'ave.  "We  v.ill  fol- 
low the  ti'aU,  and  when  we  have  gained  the 
information  we  require,  we  v.ill  let  you  know, 
and  you  may  be  aide  to  assist  us. " 

"We  are  to  march  to-mon-ow  f  ir  Spiingfieli 
Price  moves  to-day  for  CassviUc,  imd  if  Ali- 
bamo is  again  in  the  hands  of  that  Tretph, 
Branch,  she  wiU  probably  be  removed  to  feat 
place.     But  go,  and  success  attend  you." 

The  two  friends,  t<igether  with  Fi^'U-leaf,  left 
the  camp,  and  proceeded  in  the  direction  of 
the  place  where  the  skirmish  occmTed.  In  the 
course  of  two  hours  they  reached  the  spot 
Several  of  the  dead  still  were  upon  the  field, 
unburied,  but  no  sign  of  any  humi.n  being  was 
visible,  excepting  these.  The  Indian  FOught  for 
traces  upon  the  river's  bank,  and  discovering 
a  spot  where  an  evident  struggle  had  taken 
place — where  iico  horses  had  been  turned 
around,  and  had  proceeded  on  their  way/rom 
the  river  at  a  much  slower  pace  thau  toward 
it,  judging  from  the  length  of  the  steps.  These 
tracks  were  closely  followed,  and  it  was  ob- 
served that  they  soon  merged  into  others,  and 
could  no  longer  be  distinguished.  TLc  course 
uf  the  entu-e  squadron  of  cavahy  w;:3  toward 
the  camp  of  Price,  and  it  was  decided,  that 
the  reason  the  first  discovered  mruks  of  the 
horse's  shoe  coidd  no  longer  be  seen  was,  that 
they  were  in  the  lead,  and  those  which  fol- 
lowed obliterated  the  impression.  And  it  was 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  Branch  aixd  Ali- 
bamo would  ride  at  the  head  of  the  column. 


BKiTJTIFiJL  C.\PTIVE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAMP. 


25 


The  friends  followed  the  trail  until  it  turned 
to  the  left,  and  took  its  direction  across  the 
moiintain.  Upon  the  other  side  it  was  lost  to 
view  in  the  main  road,  among  the  thousand 
ti-acks  which  appeared  in  the  mud.  But  they 
had  seen  sufficient  to  satisfy  them  that  not 
only  this  squad,  but  the  entire  army  under 
Pz-ice  were  on  their  retreat.  They  determined 
to  follow  on,  and,  if  possible,  to  rescue  Aliba- 
mo,  and  if  this  oould  not  be  done,  to  get  ex- 
act information  as  to  where  she  was  kept,  and 
then  to  retui'n  for  assistance. 


CHAPTER  Vin. 

Tha  Prisoyiers — Brutality — The  Attendant — The 
Letter — Discovery. 

What  bloody  man  is  that  ?    He  can  report 
■  A3  eeeraeth  by  hU  plight,  of  the  revolt 
The  newest  state. — Shakespeare. 

As  Branch  saw  the  prostrate  form  of  Hay- 
ward  upon  the  ground,  he  cried  : 

' '  By  heavens,  it  is  the  very  man  we  want — 
it  is  Captain  Hayward ! " 

"  Bide  over  his  body — trample  bim  into  the 
earth ! "  shouted  one  of  the  infuriated  soldiers. 

"No!  no!"  shi-ieked  Branch.  "If  he  yet 
lives  he  must  be  resei'ved  for  torture !  It  is 
oiur  general's  command.  Let  no  one  dare  to 
disobey  it.  Ah !  the  fiends  befriend  me ! 
There  is  Alibamo,  and  her  horse  has  fallen !" 

This  was  indeed  true.  In  her  haste  as  she 
dashed  down  the  steep  toward  the  river,  the 
horse  of  Alibamo  had  missed  his  footing,  and 
fallen,  thro%ving  its  fair  rider  violently  to  the 
ground.  It  was  but  an  instant  before  he  was 
again  upon  his  feet,  but  before  Alibamo  could 
regain  her  seat,  her  persecutor  had  seized  her. 

"Ah!  my  fair  beauty,"  he  cried,  "I  have 
you  once  more  in  my  grasp.  And  now  re- 
venge will  be  a  thousand  times  sweeter.  Look 
there ! "  he  cried,  as  he  dragged  the  helpless 
giii  forward.  ' '  Look  upon  your  v.rould-be 
rescuer !     It  is  a  glorious  spectacle,  is  it  not  ?" 

"Dead!  dead!"  sobbed  the  maiden. 

"Ah !  you  weep  for  him,  do  you  ?  No  doubt 
^ou  love  h\m  very  dearly !  But  he  is  not  dead, 
and  I  would  not  have  him  dead  for  millions ! 
It  was  a  game  well  played,  and  worthy  of  your 
lover,  the  gallant  Captain  Hayward.  But  he 
did  not  win  the  game.  /  held  tho  trump  card, 
and  I  -n-ill  show  him  how  I  won,  and  why  I 
won,  when  he  recovers !" 

"  What  would  you  do  ?" 

""What  would  I  do?  You  shall  see.  First 
I  ■will  let  him  return  to  consciousness,  and 
then  I'll  tear  him  limb  from  limb — hack  him 
to  pieces — tear  out  that  heart  you  love  so 
much,  and  give  it  to  you  still  beating  with 
life,  and  drippiag  with  his  blood.  You  shall 
wear  it  e^er  before  you,  and  it  'niUbe  are- 
minder  of  my  generosity ! " 

"Oh!  fiend!  fiend!"  groaned  Alibamo. 

"Oh!  yes!  You  have  called  me  fiend  a 
hundred  times,  and  now  you  shall  learn  that  I 
am  one,  indeed.  Shout,  boys!  shout!  "We 
are  victorious !  Dance-— dance — ^hold  your 
revels  over  that  form !  But  do  not  harm  it 
more  now.     I  would  havo  him  all  to  myself. 


And  I'U  pray  that  he  may  have  a  thousand 
lives!" 

The  rebels  readily  obeyed  the  command  of 
Branch,  and  commenced  their  bowlings. 

' '  Hark  to  that  music,  Alibamo.  It  is  our 
notes  of  victory.  Do  you  not  love  those 
sounds  ?" 

"  They  become  only  such  as  you.  The  moat 
barbarous  savage  would  scorn  to  exult  thus 
over  a  single  fallen  foe!"  said  Alibamo,  her 
eyes  flashing  with  indignation. 

"Oh!  taunt!  I  love  to  hear  it.  It  makes 
my  hatred  for  your  cajitain  deeper.  And  for 
every  word  of  insult  you  have  spoken,  or  do 
speak  to  me,  I'll  revenge  myself  on  him.  And 
you  shall  see  it  all.  See,  he  moves — he  opens 
his  eyes !     Let  him  gaze  around. " 

' '  Harry !  Harry ! "  called  Hayward  in  a  faint 
voice. 

"Oh!  my  beauty,  he  does  not  speak  your 
name  first !  But  perhaps  he  hopes  for  assist- 
ance.    He  shall  have  it  soon ! " 

"Mamie  —  Mamie — sister — closer    to    my 

heart.     I'm    cold — co "    The   sound  died 

upon  his  lips. 

"And  hark,  youi-s  is  not  the  second  name 
he  speaks.  He  has  a  sister  whom  he  loves. 
And  I  will  have  her  too  !  She  shall  be  in  my 
power — oh !  I  will  waing  his  heart.  Oh !  1  can- 
not f^peak  my  exultant  joy.  My  very  heart  is 
buniing  within  me  as  I  see  before  me  this  glo- 
rious prospect  for  revenge." 

"  You  are  foiled  in  that,  villain  that  you  are. 
His  sister  is  far  beyond  your  reach,  in  the  bo- 
som of  her  Northern  home. " 

"But  I'll  find  her — I'U  have  her  in  my 
power  merely  to  torture  him  if  it  costs  ma 
millions.  Don't  let  him  die.  Tear  open  hia 
vest — see  where  he  is  wounded,  and  wash  it 
with  liquor — it  will  prolong  his  life. " 

Some  of  the  soldiers  did  as  they  were  bid. 

"  There  is  a  letter.  Give  it  me.  Ah !  by  the 
Eternal!  'tis  signed,  '  your  loving  sister,  3Ia7nie!' 
And  here  is  the  name  of  her  home.  Now, 
Alibamo,  what  say  you?  Is  she  not  in  my 
power  ?  And  not  only  she,  but  all  his  family 
shall  suffer.  I  hate  the  tribe.  You  said  I 
could  not  find  her.  I'U  write  to-night  and  teU 
her  that  her  brother  is  wounded  and  wishes 
her  presence  at  once.  She  ■wiU  come,  and  she 
shaU  see  me  torture  him  ! " 

""What  benefit  or  gratification  wiU  that  af- 
ford you.  Branch  ?"  asked  Alibamo. 

"  "Why,  this  is  a  tender  epistle.  This  Hay- 
ward  loves  his  sister,  and  if  she  is  gazing  up- 
on his  iJangs,  it  wiU  be  doubly  keen  to  him, 
knowing  she  sees  it.  He  wiU  feel  aU  her  suf- 
fering.'? and  his  own.  Ah !  Hayward  speaks 
again!" 

' '  Alibamo !     Alibamo ! " 

"  Stop  his  mouth — tear  his  tongue  out.  Ha 
shaU  not  speak  your  name. " 

Branch  struck  the  faUen  man  across  his  face 
%vith  his  heaYj  iron  scabbard.  The  blood 
spirted  from  his  moutli  and  nostrUs,  but  he 
moved  not.  As  the  soldiers  applied  the  fluid 
to  his  wounds,  Hayward  showed  evidence  of 
pain,  but  did  not  speak. 

"The  baU  has  passed  directly  under  the 
right  arm,  and  must  have  entered  the  lungs. 
He  wiU  not  live,"  said  one  of  the  soldiers. 

"He  shaU  Uve !"  cried  Branch.     "  He  must 


THE  BOEDEE  SPY  ;    OK  THE 


Btb.     TIa  him  on  one  of  the  horses  and  let  na 
bo  oif 

ThffT  order  was  obeyed  promptly.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  fiend  -which  urged  on  the  actions  of 
that  bad  man,  had,  from  very  shame,  left  his 
breast,  and  he  silently  took  the  lead,  and  with 
Alibamo  by  his  side,  the  squadron  set  oflf  at  a 
rapid  rate. 

For  many  miles  they  kept  on  their  course 
toward  the  camp  of  the  rebels.  At  length 
they  turned  their  direction  across  the  mountain. 
As  they  ascended  to  the  sunmiit,  Alibamo 
asked : 

' '  WTiither  are  you  going.  Branch  ?" 

"Look  yonder.  Don't  you  see  the  army 
moving.  It  is  our  army.  We  are  going  to 
Sprinc^fcld." 

' '  You  are  retreating  like  cowards  as  you 
are  I "  repUed  Alibarao,  with  a  sneer. 

The  only  reply  from  Branch  was  a  blow  up- 
on the  head  of  the  senseless  captain. 

"  Thus  wiU  I  revenge  every  word  of  insult 
you  speak  to  me  ! " 

"  You  will  revenge  but  little  more,  for  he  is 
nearly  gone.  But  you  are  mistaken  if  you  deem 
him  my  lover.     I  never  saw  him  until  to-day. " 

"  I  do  not  believe  you,"  replied  Branch. 

"  Did  you  not  hear  him  speak  the  name  of 
Harry  Hinton  ?" 

"I  did." 

"  Harry  is  the  one  I  love.  Captain  Hayward 
spoke  that  name  that  I  might  recognize  him  as 
a  friend.  Harry  was  with  the  captain,  and  has 
escaped,  and  wo  to  you,  Branch,  when  he  re- 
turns ! " 

"Bah!  Think  you  that  I  can  be  frightened 
from  my  pui-pose  ?  No !  Besides,  I  do  not  be- 
lieve one  word  you  have  said.  Has  Hayward 
spoken  recently  ?"  asked  Branch. 

"Yes,  several  times.  But  he  is  evidently 
suffering  great  pain  from  riding  in  this  man- 
ner, and  he  faints  in  an  instant  after  the  re- 
turn of  his  reason,"  replied  one  of  the  soldiers. 

"O  Branch!  in  mercy  do  not  torture  this 
poor  man  in  this  manner, "  said  Alibamo,  im- 
ploringly. 

"  We  will  overtake  an  ambulance  in  an  hour, 
and  then  I  will  transfer  him  to  one  of  them." 

"  May  I  be  permitted  to  attend  upon  him  ?" 
asked  Alibamo. 

"  "Would  it  be  a  great  gratification  to  you?" 

"Oh!  yes;  very  great!" 

"  Then  you  shan't  Now  speak  of  him  no 
more. " 

In  a  short  time  an  ambulance  was  overta- 
ken, and  Branch  said  : 

"  Place  Hayward  in  that  ambulance.  If  he 
is  carried  on  horseback,  he  will  die,  and  I  shaU 
lose  my  revenge !" 

"  Let  me  handle  the  dam  skunk .'"  said  one 
of  the  party,  as  he  advanced  through  the 
ci'owd.  • ' I'm  used  to  handlin'  jixst  such  darned 
skunks  as  he  is  ! " 

"  Be  careful  I"  said  Branch,  as  this  peculiar 
looking  object  lifted  Haj'ward  from  the  horse. 

"Oh!  guess  there's  no  occasion  to  be  too 
careful.  Such  dam  skunks  as  him  ain't  so  ea- 
sy killed." 

Hayward  was  placed  in  the  ambtilance. 

"  WTao  will  volunteer  to  remain  with  him  ?" 
asked  Branch. 

No  one  replied- 


' '  Will  you  ?"  asked  Branch,  turning  to  fh» 
person  who  had  volunteered  to  assist  Haj-ward 
from  his  horse. 

' '  Well,  yes — that  is  if  nobody  else  won't. 
But  I  don't  like  such  work  very  much." 

"  And  let  six  mounted  guard  march  behind. 
I  will  go  forward  and  report  to  the  general 
Here,  Peters,  take  charge  of  Alibamo  until  I 
return." 

Slatters  thus  arranged,  Branch  rode  forward. 
The  army  proceeded  but  a  few  miles  farther. 
In  a  short  time  after  the  halt.  Branch  returned 
and  riding  up  to  the  ambulance,  he  asked  of 
the  attendant : 

"  How  is  the  captain  ?" 

' '  He  is  asleep,  and  seems  to  breathe  mncli 
easier,  the  dam  skunk ! " 

"  Has  he  spoken  at  all  ?" 

"  No  ;  I  did  not  wake  him !" 

"  Take  him  around  to  the  tent  of  the  gener- 
al," said  Branch,  addressing  the  driver.   • 

"Ay,  ay,  sir!" 

"  ShaU  I  go  along  ?"  asked  the  attendant 

' '  Yes,  5"ou  may  attend  upon  him  for  the  pres- 
ent. Treat  him  well,  as  I  wish  him  to  recover." 

' '  Oh !  I'm  a  kind  o'  doctor,  and  111  do  the 
best  I  can  by  him,"  was  the  reply. 

In  a  short  time  Hayward  was  brought  to  the 
tent  of  Price. 

"  Is  he  conscious  ?"  asked  the  generah 

"No!" 

"Place  him  in  that  vacant  tent,  and  let  a 
siu-geon  attend  him.  It  is  highly  important 
that  1^  should  Uve.  Have  you  searched  him 
for  papers  ?" 

"Not  yet!" 

' '  Let  him  be  searched,  and  bring  me  what- 
ever you  find ! "  said  Price, 

The  search  was  made,  but  nothing  of  the 
character  desired  by  Price  was  found  upon  his 
person. 

Hayward  was  removed  to  the  tent  indica- 
ted by  Price.  A  surgeon  was  soon  in  attend- 
ance, and  after  dressing  his  wounds,  annoimced 
that  with  the  proper  attention,  Hayward  would 
recover, 

"  If  he  becomes  thoroughly  conscious  before 
morning,  and  is  able  to  converse,  let  me  know 
it.  I  wish  to  question  him,"  said  Price,  as  he 
left  the  wounded  captain  in  charge  of  the  guard- 
As  Price  was  entering  his  tent,  an  orderly 
i:)resentcd  him  with  a  letter.  The  general  toae 
it  open,  and  glanced  over  its  contents.  He  said  : 

' '  The  lady  asks  the  privilege  of  attending 
upon  the  wounded  captain.  Let  her  do  so, 
but  give  instiiictions  that  if  Hayward  returns 
to  consciousness,  not  one  word  is  to  pass  be- 
tween him  and  the  lady,  except  in  presence  of 
the  guard.  And  to  prevent  any  conversation 
which  may  be  understood  by  themselves,  and 
not  by  the  guard,  let  every  word  si^oken  by 
them  be  noted.  Place  four  sentinels  outside 
the  tent,  and  one  wiU  remaia  within." 

"Your  orders  shall  be  strictly  carried  out, 
general." 

"  If  he  again  escape,  those  guarding  him 
shall  answer  for  it  with  their  lives." 

"I  will  answer  for  his  safety  with  mine," 
replied  the  orderly,  as  he  departed. 

He  proceeded  at  once  to  the  tent  of  Alibamo, 
and  informed  her  that  she  was  at  liberty  to  at- 
tend upon  Hayw£ird  for  the  present,  but  that 


BEAUTIFUL  CAl'TIVE  OF  THE  KEBEL  CAMP. 


27 


•very  -word  spoken  betvreeu  them  was  to  be  re- 

Eorted.      Braucli  -was  \^'itli  her,  auJ  wheu  he 
eard  this,  he  tore  his  hair  from  very  rage. 
"This  general  is  too  soft-hearted ! "  mutter- 
ed Branch  to  himself.     "  But  come,  Alibamo, 
I  ■will  go  ^^•ith you  to  Hayvvards  tent!" 

"I prefer  to  go  without  you,  sir!"  was  the 
reply. 

' '  No  doubt — and  for  that  very  reason  I  am 
going  with  you  1 " 

They  soon  reached  the  tent,  and  Alibamo 
•eated  herselfbeside  the  wounded  man.  Branch 
took  his  seat  opposite. 

"Do  you  intend  to  remain  hero?"  asked 
Alibamo. 

' '  I  am  not  welcome,  I  suppose  ?"  replied 
Branch  with  sarcasm. 

"I  would  prefer  the  tent  should  be  filled 
vith  serpents  ?" 

Branch  frowned  terribly,  and  bit  his  lips,  but 
did  not  reply. 

' '  Why  don't  you  strike  this  senseless  man, 
and  thus  revenge  that  honest,  truthful  an- 
swer?"' asked  Alibamo. 

' '  If  you  speak  thus  again,  I  vnH  do  so  ! " 

"Not  while  I  am  here.  Soldier,  hand  me 
that  knife !"  But  before  she  had  finished  the 
sentence,  she  had  snatched  the  knife  alluded 
to,  from  the  belt  of  the  attendant. 

"You  know,  Branch,  I  used  a  weajDon  of 
this  sort  to  some  purpose,  once,  and  if  you  dare 
approach  me,  or  this  helpless  officer,  I  will 
mive  it  to  your  heart. " 

"Uecover  your  knife!"  cried  Branch,  who 
■was  now  fairly  foaming  with  rage,  to  the  at- 
tendant. 

"Just  you  hand  over  that  tool,  you  dam 
skunk,  you !"  said  the  soldier,  as  he  arose,  and 
advanced  toward  Alibamo. 

' '  Stand  back,  sir.  Stand  back.  I  do  not 
■wish  to  harm  you,  soldier,  but  if  you  attempt 
to  take  this  weapon  from  me,  you  will  feel  its 
point." 

"  Captain,"  said  the  soldier,  "there  ain't  no 
use  in  trying  to  make  women  mind  you. 
They're  darn  skunks  any  way — ^better  let  'em 
alone." 

' '  Hayward  is  awake ! "  said  Branch.  ' '  Speak 
to  him — see  if  he  vriU.  reply. " 

' '  Captain,  do  you  know  me  ?"  asked  Alibamo. 

A  faint  smile  overspread  the  captain's  face, 
but  he  did  not  reply. 

"  Can  you  not  speak  ?  Oh!  let  me  hear  your 
voice  once  more !  Say  at  least,  that  you  for- 
give me — for  I  have  brought  all  this  upon 
you!"  Ahbamo  bent  over  the  woimded  man, 
weeping  as  if  her  heart  would  break.  Hay- 
ward  closed  his  eyes,  and  did  not  reply. 

"  Wliat  the  devil  are  you  blubbering  about?" 
growled  Branch  addressing  himself  to  the  at- 
tendant soldier. 

"Cos  I'm  a  dam  skunk,"  sobbed  the  at- 
tendant, scarcely  able  to  speak. 

' '  My  good  friend,  do  you  sympathize  -with 
this  noble  captain  ?" 

"Yes — yes — ma'am,"  sobbed  the  soldier. 
"I  don't  beUeve  he's  half  so  much  of  a  dam 
skunk  as  some  other  folks !" 

"There,  don't  weep,"  said  Alibamo,  in  a 
soothing  manner,  as  she  laid  her  hand  gently 
upon  his  arm.  "I  am  glad  to  meet  one  good 
hJeart  here!" 


'•Don't — don't.  Miss  jilibamo.  There's 
something  inside  of  me  that's  swelling  up,  and 
if  you  talk  that  way,  I  know  it  ■will  burst,  and 
I  shall  bellow  like  a  buU.  Oh !  I  wish  I  wasn't 
such  a  darn  skunk !  But  I  ain't  no  account, 
no  way,  so  don't  call  me  a  good  heart,  cos  no- 
body ever  said  that  to  me  afore,  only  cajj 

only  you,  and  I  ain't  nothing  but  a  cowardly 
skunk ! " 

"  Why  have  you  so  much  sympathy  for  youi 
enemy?"  asked  Branch. 

"Because  I  don't  think  it's  fair  to  strike  a 
man  when  he's  down!" 

"  I'U  tell  you,  Branch,"  said  Alibamo,  "why 
he  has  so  much  sympathy  for  the  captain — a 
feeling  you  cannot  understand,  God  has 
given  him  a  noble  heart,  and  he  can  feel  for 
the  unfortunate,  even  though  it  be  an  enemy." 

"Did  you  ever  see  Hay^vard before !"  asked 
Branch  of  the  soldier,  ejang  him  sharply. 

"I  seed  him  in  the  fight.  Lord  didn't  he 
make  his  sword  fly.  More  than  a  dozen  sojers 
lay  do'wn  when  he  hit  'em.  It  made  my  hair 
stand  up,  I  tell  you.  By  thunder,  icasnH  hs 
brave !  I'll  bet  if  there  had  been  six  just  like 
him,  he'd  licked  our  crowd.  If  he  is  a  dam 
skunk  of  a  federal,  he  is  a  trump  card  it'U  do 
to  go  a  big  pile  on. " 

"Give  me — water!"  said  Hayward,  in  a 
feeble  voice,  opening  his  eyes. 

"Quick,  some  water,"  said  Alibamo.  She 
placed  the  cup  to  his  lips,  and  he  drank. 

"I  have  been  dreaming!"  said  Hayward- 
"  Oh  !  it  was  sweet !" 

"  Of  what  did  you  di'eam  ?"   asked  Alibamo. 

"  Of  home — Mamie — Mamie ! " 

"He  is  conscious.  His  answer  was  direct," 
said  Branch. 

"Do  you  know  me,  captain?"  asked  Alibamo. 

"Yes — where  is  HaiTy?" 

"He  is  not  here!" 

"I  want  him — I  feel  sick!  Call  him.  Wil- 
liam Nettleton ! "  caUed  Hayward,  in  a  low  tone. 

"Here,  captain! Won't — won't  I  do  just 

as  well  ?  I'U  do  anything  I  can  for  you, "  said 
the  attendant,  springing  forward.  Had  the 
rebel  officer  been  less  absorbed  in  the  prison- 
er's state  he  must  surely  have  observed  the 
agitation  of  the  attendant. 

"Do  you  know  where  you  are  ?"  asked  Branch 
of  Hayward. 

The  captain  had  closed  his  eyes,  but  upon 
hearing  the  voice  of  Branch,  he  opened  them, 
and  looked  upon  the  sjaeaker — a  look  so  full  of 
scorn  and  disgust  as  to  betray  the  lion  heart 
still  beating  in  his  breast. 

"  AVhy  is  that  man  in  my  tent?"  he  asked. 
' '  Take  hiTn  away — his  presence  is  hateful  to 
me." 

' '  It  ■will  be  before  I  am  through  with  yoi'u 
What  is  that?" 

"One  of  the  sentinels  in  the  rear  of  this 
tent  has  discharged  his  piece  ! " 

"Some  of  j'our  friends  are  after  us,  very- 
likely,  Alibamo.  I  will  call  upon  them,  per- 
haps I  shall  be  able  to  bring  yoii  company. " 
Branch  left  the  tent,  hurriedly  and  not  with- 
out trepidation. 

A  gleam  of  light  lit  up  the  face  of  the  atten- 
dant. He  became  at  once  uneasy.  Then  he 
sprang  suddenly  to  the  ground,  exclaiming, 
but  not  loudly : 


28 


THE  BOEDER  SPY  ;    OE  THE 


"  There  -was  a  liand  there.  It  held  a  bit  of 
paper!" 

Alibamo  sprang  forn-ard,  and  seized  the  pa- 
per which  -was  IjTng  on  the  ground.  She  held 
it  to  the  light,  and  then  exclaimed  aloud,  as  if 
unconscious  of  what  she  said  : 

"It  is  mj'  brother's  writing — friends  are 
near ! "  Then,  as  if  suddenly  recollecting  her- 
self, she  turned  to  the  attendant  and  said  : 

"  Oh  !  do  not  betray  me,  I  beg — I  implore ! " 

"  I  ain't  no  such  dam  skunk.  Let  me  tell 
you  something. " 

The  attendant  spoke  in  a  whisper.  Alibamo 
started,  clasped  his  hand,  kissed  it  convul- 
sively. ' '  Dear,  good  fellow ! "  she  said  through 
her  tears. 

"There  — oh!  don't— 0  Christopher! —I 
shall  have  to  blubber,  and  then  aU  will  be  up 
with  us ! "  cried  the  fellow,  as  he  twisted  and 
hopped  around  the  tent  Kke  one  suflfeiing  pain. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

The  Friends — The  Froposd — The  Rejection — 
The  Fate. 

'Ti3  sweet  to  die  for  one's  country ! — Old  Maxim. 

Tee  alarm  caused  by  the  firing  of  the  gun 
had  entii-oly  subsided,  as  nothing  was  discov- 
ered. Upon  questioning  the  guard,  he  stated 
that  he  was  suddenly  seized,  and  throvm  vio- 
lently to  the  gi-ound.  But,  before  he  could 
recover  his  surprise  and  fire,  the  form  had  dis- 
appeared among  the  trees.  Some  believed 
that  spies  were  lurking  about  camp,  while 
others  attiibuted  the  alarm  entii'ely  to  the  im- 
agination or  fear  of  the  guard. 

The  morning  dawned,  bright  and  beautiful 
Hayvrard  had  entirely  returned  to  conscious- 
ness; but  was  unable  to  converse,  and  appeared 
to  notice  nothing  which  transpired  around 
him.  He  did  not  even  speak  to,  or  recognize, 
his  fair  attendant,  Ahbamo.  At  times  his  words 
were  of  home — his  friends  were  called  upon — 
and  then  he  would  remain  silent. 

The  aiiny  took  iip  its  line  of  march.  Hay- 
ward  was  transported  as  before,  and  at  each 
night  was  kindly  cared  for  by  Alibamo  and  the 
other  attendant,  who  still  were  permitted  to 
remain  with  him.  At  last  they  reached  the 
grand  prahie,  west  of  Springfield,  and  en- 
camped for  the  night. 

"Is  Captain  Haj'M-ard  sufficiently  recovered 
to  converse  ?"  asked  Price  of  Branch. 

"Oh!  yes  ;  he  is  rapidly  recovering.  His 
wound  is  not  so  serious  as  at  first  supposed. 
It  is  tiiie  he  is  quite  weak  from  loss  of  blood, 
but  stiU  strong  enough  to  be  dangerous.  It  is 
my  advice  that  he  be  removed  from  the  main 
ai-my,  as  his  friends  wiU  spare  no  trouble  to 
rescue  him.  We  are  to  have  a  battle  very  soon, 
I  suppose,  and  we  may  lose  him,  even  if  not 
defeated,  as  the  body-guard  will  dash  to  the 
point  where  he  is  held,  and  attempt  his  res- 
cue ;  and  you  know,  general,  we  might  almost 
as  weU  attempt  to  meet  lightning  as  that  fa- 
natical set  of  cut-throats.  They  are,  I  am 
told,  the  ch'^icest  men  out  of  a  hundred  thou- 
sand, and  fight  for  the  mere  love  of  the  fun. " 


' '  "Where  can  we  remove  Hayward,  that  h« 
will  be  secure  until  he  entirely  recovers  ?" 

"From  this  point  to  Springfield,  and  thence 
through  Arkansas  to  ilemphis. " 

' '  But  he  is  a  spy,  and  must  hang ! "  replied 
Price. 

"  Such  ought  to  be  his  fate,  I  confess.  But 
policy  dictates  othenrise.  He  is  much  beloved 
by  the  army,  and  their  revenge  would  be  ter- 
rible. " 

"  Do  you/ear  their  revenge.Captain  Branch  ?" 

"Not  for  myself,  general,  but  for  those  of 
our  army  who  might  be  taken  prisoners.  The 
federals  would  hang  a  thousand  of  our  friends 
in  retaliation.  Besides,  he  is  worth  much 
more  as  an  exchange  than  as  a  corpse." 

"Your  argument  is  logical,  Captain  Branch  ; 
but  Hay^'ard  insulted  me  grossly,  at  one  time, 
and  my  heart  bums  for  revenge." 

"Tiiie,  but  you  can  scarcely  revenge  your- 
self on  such  a  man.  Torture  him,  and  his  lip 
curls  as  if  in  very  scorn  of  pain.  Threaten 
him  vriih.  death,  and  his  proud  eye  flashes  as 
he  rephes,  '  My  country  wiU.  remember  me ! ' 
Taunt  him — spit  upon  him — and  he  does  not 
notice  it,  except  by  a  haughty  air  which  seems 
to  say,  '  I  despise  you,  and  take  nothing  as  an 
insult  from  those  I  loathe ! ' " 

' '  Is  there  no  way  to  humble  him  ?"  asked 
Price. 

' '  Xo  way !  His  proud  spirit  cannot  be  bro- 
ken 1 " 

"I  will  see !  I  shall  visit  him  in  a  few  mo- 
ments, and  if  he  accedes  to  my  \\ishes,  very 
wcU  ;  if  not,  he  shall  be  throv>-n  into  the  dun- 
geon, and  there  left  to  rut  and  die.  As  yon 
say,  sudden  death  would  have  no  terrors  to 
such  a  soul,  but  the  damp  and  darkness  of  a 
prison  cell  v\"ill  curb  that  proud  spirit.  Let 
me  finish  this  dispatch,  and  then  we  will  visit 
him." 

Captain  Hay^^vard  was  sitting  in  his  tent,  his 
head  bowed  upon  his  hands,  apparently  buried 
in  deep  thought. 

"  AUbamo,"  said  Haj-\vard,  raising  his  head, 
"what  think  you  will  be  my  fate  ?" 

"  I  hope  for  a  rescue !"  replied  the  maiden. 

"You  are  of  a  hopeful  natiire,  my  sweet 
gul,  and  I  thank  you  for  your  words  of  en- 
coiuragement.  Thank !  That  is  a  poor  word, 
Ahbamo,  for  kindness  such  as  yours.  You 
have  watched  with  me  constantiy,  and,  like  a 
bright  angel,  have  ministered  to  my  wants. 
Your  presence  has  cheered  me  in  my  sad  hours, 
when  pain  and  suftering  had  unmanned  me. 
And  I  love  you,  Ahbamo,  almost  as  much  as  I 
love  my  own  darhng  sister." 

"Your  sister!"  repeated  Ahbamo,  with  evi- 
dent pain.  "Yes — I  know  you  love  her,  for 
you  have  often  sjDoken  of  her  in  your  delir- 
ium." 

"Have  you  received  any  word  from  our 
friends  ?" 

' '  Not  one  word  since  that  mysterious  hand 
extended  to  me  those  words  of  hope  the  first 
night  after  your  captiure." 

"Nettleton,"  said  Hayward,  addressing  his 
attendant,  "have  you  heard  me  spoken  of 
among  the  soldiers  ?" 

"  Yes,  captain,  the  dam  skunk^talk  about 
you  considerable." 

""VMiat  do  they  say?" 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTITE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAMP, 


2§ 


""WTiy,  I  lieerd  some  on  em  say  it  -was  a  ' 
dam  shame  that  a  bold  feller  like  you  should 
be " 

"  Hung  up  like  a  dog !  Why  don't  you  fin- 
ish the  sentence  ?"     V      , 

"Well,  that's  just  what  they  did  say.  But  I 
heerd  one  what  ain't  very  far  from  you  now, 

say,  he'd  be  d d  if  Captain  Haj^vard  should 

die  any  such  way,  and  when  he  had  waited  till 
the  last  minute,  'if  no  help  came,  he  would  put 
a  biillet  right  through  your  heart,  and  save  you 
firom  the  dam  rope,  any%Yay!" 

"Brave  boy!  You  have  a  noble  heart,"  said 
Eayi;\'iird,  grasping  his  hand. 

"No  I  hain't.  Don't  say  so,  captain,  cos 
•when  you  do,  I  can't  keep  these  dam  water- 
drops  out  of  my  eyes,  cos  I'm  a  dam  skunk 
anyway,  and  ain't  worth  any  such  words  from 
you." 

"Nettleton,  how  have  you  managed  to  re- 
main with  me  so  long  without  being  sus- 
pected ?" 

"0  Lord!  I'm  such  a  dam  skunk  nobody 
would  ever  think  of  suspecting  me!  They 
think  I  don't  know  any  more  than  a  half-grown 
calf.     And  I  spose  I  don't!" 

' '  How  did  you  get  with  me  at  all  ?" 

""^"hy,  after  the  fight  was  over  I  stood  right 
still,  and  nobody  noticed  me,  except  one  feller 
who  said,  '  Git  out  out  of  my  way,  greeney.' 
And  so  I  followed  on  after  the  rest  of  'em,  and 
managed  to  keep  ■^"ith  j^ou  ever  since.  And  if 
I  can  only  do  you  some  good,  I  shall  think  I 
ain't  quite  such  a  dam  skunk  after  all. " 

"Nettleton,  I  wish  you  would  not  use  that 
expression  quite  so  often." 

"  What  expression,  captain?" 

' '  Why,  dam  skunk ! " 

"  WeU  I  won't,  captain,  only  I  know  that  I 
a»a  a  dam  skunk,  any  waj"." 

"Captain,"  said  Alibamo,  "you  spoke  of 
your  sister.     Is  she  far  from  here  ?" 

"Not  far — merely  in  Ohio." 

"If  by  chance  you  are  rescued  and  removed 
to  the  Union  camp,  do  you  not  vrish  her  sent 
for?" 

"  No— not  for  the  world ! " 

' '  She  icoukl  come  if  sent  for,  would  she  not  ?" 

"Yes,  if  she  lived  to  get  here.  But,  do  not 
thiak  of  such  ,'\  thing.  I  shall  never  see  her. 
But  when  I  am  dead,  let  her  know  it,  but  not 
how  I  died.  To  know  that  I  am  dead  will 
break  her  heart. " 

Alibamo  sobbed  audibly. 

"^Vhy  are  you  weeping,  Alibamo." 

"I  was  thinking  of  youi'  sister?" 

"I  wish  I  could  cease  thinking  of  her,  now 
that  death  is  staling  me  in  the  face.  I  do  not 
fear  to  die,  but  I  do  fear  to  let  her  know  that 
she  no  longer  has  a  brpther.  O  Alibamo! 
if  you  could  see  her  once,  you  would  not  won- 
der that  I  love  her!  Why,  she  would  hang 
upon  my  neck,  and  listen  to  each  word,  as  if  her 
life  depended  on  her  hearing  every  sound.  And 
vihsn  I  parted  vdth  her  for  the  wars,  it  seemed 
as  if  her  soul  left  with  me.  She  did  not  weep, 
but  cbing  to  me,  while  her  little  foi-m  trembled 
like  the  lily  toi-n  by  the  tempest's  blast.  And  | 
her  last  words  were,  '  Heaven  must  return  to  me  i 
my  brother ! ' "  i 

"And  if  earth  should  not,  heaven  wUl.'"\ 
sobbed  Alibamo. 


"Well,  I  will  talli  no  more  of  death.  The 
grave  looks  cold  and  cheerless,  and  I  shuddet 
as  I  approach  it  in  this  manner.  Nettleton,  I 
shall  give  you  some  instructions  which  I  know 
you  win  see  faithfully  can-ied  out ! " 

"You  may  depend  upon  it,  captain.  But 
you  ain't  dead  yet,  and — " 

"  Major-General  Sterhng  Price,"  was  an- 
nounced by  an  orderly. 

Price  entered  the  tent. 

"Good  evening,  Captain  Hajrward.  I  am 
glad  to  see  you  so  far  recovered.  I  trust  you 
win.  soon  be  able  to  receive  and  wear  your 
sword  again!"  These  words  were  spoken  by 
Price  in  a  tone  of  extreme  kindness.  HayM'ard 
looked  up  suqjrised,  and  rephed  : 

"I  do  not  comprehend  you,  general!" 

' '  That  is  because  you  deem  me  your  enemy  !* 

"And  are  you  not  so?  If  I  remember 
rightly,  when  we  met  at  your  camp  on  the 
Osage,  you  expressed  a  desire  to  get  Captain 
Hayward  in  your  power.     Y'ou  have  htm,  now. " 

' '  I  did  not  know  the  man  then.  He  was  my 
enemy,  but  I  can  scarcely  be  an  enemy  to  so 
brave  a  man.  It  is  tme  I  have  much  cause. 
You  came  to  my  camp  in  disguise,  you  deceived 
my  orderly  and  obtained  possession  of  impor- 
tant papers,  you  placed  my  scouts  in  the  guard- 
house for  your  own  safety  ;  you  visited  and 
conversed  with  my  officers,  gaining  aU  the  in- 
teUigence  you  desu-ed  ;  you  assisted  a  prisoner 
to  escape,  and  meeting  a  party  of  my  scouts 
you  killed  six  with  your  own  hand  before  you 
were  shot  down  youi'self.  The  papers  which 
were  on  your  person  could  not  be  found,  and 
therefore  they  must  have  been  sent  by  you  tQ 
your  general.  AH  this  was  done  with  a  bold- 
ness that  wins  my  admiration,  but  stiU  its 
punishment  is  death. " 

"Which  I  expect  to  receive  at  yoTir  hands," 
repUed  Hayward,  coldly. 

"  Y^'our  life  may  be  spared!"  said  Price. 

"Not  a  great  boon,"  replied  Hayward. 

"Do  you  not  M-ish  to  live  for  your  sister's 
sake  ?"  asked  Branch. 

Hayward  started,  and  a  tremor  ran  through 
his  frame.  But  in  an  instant  he  recovered  Ma 
self-possession,  and  said : 

"I  was  conversing  with  General  Price — not 
you,  sii-." 

Branch  bit  his  hps,  but  did  not  speak. 

"Well,  Captain  Hayward,  I  must  speak 
plainly,  and  I  know  you  prefer  I  should  do  so. 
It  is  a  pity  such  a  man  as  you  should  die,  and 
by  the  rope.  I  would  much  prefer  to  have 
met  you  on  the  battle-field,  but  it  is  too  late 
now.  The  sentence  of  yotn*  ciime  is  death, 
and  but  one  thing  can  save  you." 

' '  I'ou  need  not  trouble  yom-self  to  name  that 
one  thing, "  said  Hayward. 

**  I  see,  you  understand  me.  But,  the  prop- 
osition I  was  about  to  make  was  not  intended 
to  insult  you.  I  honestly  believe  that  I  am 
right,  while  you  believe  that  you  are.  Both  of 
us  have  sense  and  judgment.  One  of  us  must 
be  wrong.  I  beheve  I  have  thoroughly  ex- 
amined this  matter,  and  I  can  but  feel  that  if 
you  would  do  the  same,  impartially  and  with- 
out prejudice,  you  would  feel  as  I  do.  Under- 
stand, our  interests  at  the  South  are  different 
from  youi-s  at  the  North.  Y>'e  do  'iwi  vdsh  to 
interfere  with  your  government  or  your  inter- 


30 


THE  BORDER.  SPY  ;   OR  THE 


ests.  We  only  ask  ft  govemment  of  our  own, 
and  that  you  should  not  interfere  \dtli  our  in- 
terests. We  do  not  march  our  armies  into 
your  territories,  and  M-e  feel  that  you  have  no 
right  to  march  into  oura.  It  -niU  not  damage 
the  great  North  to  permit  the  Southern  States 
to  form  a  government  of  their  own,  one  that 
will  correspond  with  their  interests  ;  and,  so 
long  as  we  could  derive  great  benefit  from  it, 
why  should  you  object  ?  The  North  is  pros- 
perous, because  its  government  is  in  accord- 
ance with  its  interests  and  institutions.  The 
South  is  not  prosperous,  because  the  North, 
governing  the  whole,  has  forced  upon  us  a 
government  antagonistic  to  our  interests  and 
institutions.  Why  not  give  us  a  chance  for 
ourselves?  But  you  will  not ;  and  so  we  are 
compelled  to  strike  for  our  rights." 

"If  you  truly  feel  as  you  speak,  you  are  an 
honest  enemy,  at  least.  You  may  tell  me  what 
the  proposition  is  which  you  M-ish  to  make." 

"You  are  a  brave  man,  and  I  would  like 
your  services  and  influence  in  our  army  and 
cause.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  act  against  your 
feelings  or  principles  ;  but,  I  heartily  wish  you 
could  view  our  cause  as  I  view  it,  and  come 
with  us.  You  shall  have  command  of  a  regi- 
ment— perhaps  of  a  brigade!" 

"  General  Pi-ice,"  replied  Hay>vard  in  a  mild 
tone,  "I  thank  you  for  the  delicate  manner  in 
which  you  have  made  this  proposition.  I  can- 
not deem  it  an  insult,  as  your  manner  is  that 
of  a  man  who  mikes  an  offer,  sincerely  and  in 
gopd  Mth,  not  as  a  bribe.  But  I  cannot  view 
this  matter  as  you  do,  and  consequently  can- 
not accept  your  offer  or  entertain  it  for  a  mo- 
ment. Sly  country,  my  whole  country,  right 
or  wrong,  is  my  motto.  There  is  but  one  flag, 
and  that  is  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  for  me." 

"I  regret  it,  as  I  really  do  not  wish  to  see  so 
brave  a  man  die  so  young ! " 

"A  truce  to  compliments.  General  Price.  I 
have  done  that  which  I  deemed  my  duty.  If 
you  have  a  duty  to  perform,  and  the  perform- 
ance of  it  caUs  for  my  blood,  don't  let  '  my 
bravery'  influence  you ! " 

"WiU  you  give  your  parole  of  honor  never 
to  take  up  arms  against  us  again,  if  I  release 
you  ?"  asked  Price. 

"No,  sir!"  was  the  firm  but  mild  reply. 
"You  are  proud,  Captain  Hayward!" 
"  That  is  not  to  the  pui-pose.  General  Price. 
I  shall  do  nothing,   excepting  to  escape  if  I 
can.     I  ask  but  one  favor  of  you." 
"What  is  that  favor?" 

"That  you  wiU  tell  me  what  is  to  be  mv 
fate!" 

"I  will  'do  so.  To-morrow  you  start  for 
Springfield  under  a  strong  guard.  The  next 
d:iy  you  wiU  be  sent  forward  on  vour  way  to 
Memphis,  through  Arkansas.  At  Memphis 
you  win  be  imprisoned,  and  :»-tained  for  the 
present.  There  vn31  be  little  hope  of  exchange, 
however,  as  you  are  a  spy,  and  must  eventually 
suffer  death. " 

""^Tiy  am  I  not  at  once  executed?" 

"Because  the  federal  forces  hold   some  of 

our  prisoners,  on  whom  they  would  retaliate." 

"Will  I  be  permitted  to  commimicate  with 

my  friends  or  send  them  word  where  I  have 

been  taken  ?" 

"  That  cannot  be  permitted, "  answered  Price. 


"Under  whose  charge  am  I  to  bo  sant?" 
asked  Hayward. 

' '  Under  that  of  Captain  Branch  as  fir  a8 
Springfield.  From  thereit  is  left  t)  the  cap- 
tain to  make  further  arrangements." 

Hay\\-ard  had  .started  to  his  feet,  and  his 
eyes  met  those  of  Branch.  There  wag  light- 
ning in  that  gaze,  but  it  was  met  with  equal 
sternness. 

"  Do  you  object  to  Captain  Branch  ?"  asked 
Price. 

"  Yes.  I  object  to  any  one  who  is  so  great 
a  coward  as  to  strike  a  wounded,  senseless 
man,  merely  to  revenge  himself  upon  a 
woman!" 

""WTiat  do  you  mean?"  a.sked  Price. 

"I  will  teU  you.  This  woman  prisoner 
hates  Branch,  and  I  do  not  wonder.  She 
taunts  him,  and  what  woman  of  spirit  would 
not  ?  He  would  strike  her,  if  he  dare,  and 
because  he  dare  not,  he  took  the  noble  method 
of  revenge,  by  striking  me  in  the  face  with  his 
sword-scabbard,  when  I  was  senseless  and  tied 
on  my  horse.  Ho  thought  she  would  suffer, 
because  I  did — the  base,  cowardly  cur." 

' '  Of  this  I  knew  nothing.  Is  it  true.  Captain 
Branch  ?"  asked  Price. 

"  It  is  rjo<  true,  but  folse  as  heU,  and  Hay- 
ward knows  it  is  false  ?"  repUed  Branch,  in  a 
rage. 

"Well,  with  this  I  have  nothing  to  do. 
Good  night,  Captaia  Hayward.  If  you  should 
make  up  your  mind  to  accept  my  terms,  let  me 
hear  from  you. " 

Price  left  the  tent  with  Branch. 

"Let  us  sleep,  friends,  and  prepare  for  to- 
morrow. God  knows  what  it  ■«t11  bring  for  us. 
But  still,  let  us  hope.  I  am  glad  we  go  to 
Springfield." 


CHAPTER  X. 

Ihe  Departure — The  Meeting — Thi  Sister — The 
Breaking  Hearts. 

Thia  is  the  heaviett  b'.ow  of  all. — Bulvocr. 

The  morning  dawned,  and  still  Captain  Hay- 
ward slept.  Alibamo  was  seated  by  his  side, 
gazing  intently  upon  him.  Nettleton  was 
standing  in  the  entrance  of  the  tent.  The 
reveille  was  beating,  and  aU  without  g.^ve 
evidence  of  preparation  to  continue  the  march. 
As  the  maiden  gazed  upon  Hayward,  she  said 
in  saddened  tones : 

* '  Would  to  God  I  knew  the  fate  hanging 
over  this  poor  man,  or  that,  whatever  it  is,  I 
might  be  permitted  to  share  it  with  him.  But, 
I  fear  we  shall  be  separated  to-d;^y.  That 
villain  Branch  ■^ill  show  no  mercy  when  he  ia 
under  no  restraint.     Nettleton ! " 

' '  Here,  Miss  Alibamo. " 

"  Have  you  discovered  nothing — no  signs  of 
friends  ?" 

"Nothing,  but  I  will  not  give  up  yet.  We 
may  expect  aid  at  Springfield." 

"I  fear  aU  is  lost.  Branch  wiU  not  permit 
the  captain  to  remain  long  in  Springfield,  ns 
I  am  told  the  Union  army  is  advancing.  Ho 
will  be  hurried  off  South,  and  I  suppose  we 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  REBEL  CAIMP. 


31 


shall  be  separated  to-day.     Very  likely  neither 
of  us  will  be  permitted  to  go  with  him." 
"You  \vill,  miss." 
"How  do  you  know  this?" 
"I'll  tell  you.     Last  night  I  crept  close  to 
the  tent  of  Branch  and  Ustened.     I  heard  him 
gi-i-ing  directions  to  some  one  he  was  about  to 
send  forward.     I  heard  him  say  you  were  to  go 
with  hun,  and  that  your  room  would  be  in  the 
hotel  at  Springfield  which  is  now  used  as  the 
lebel  hospital.     And  the  captain  is  to  be  im- 
prisoned in  the  cellar  of  the  same  building." 
"Are  you  to  go  with  us?" 
"  I  shall  go,  but  as  soon  as  I  find  out  what 
is  to  be  done,  I  shall  go  somewhere  else." 
"You  don't  intend  to  leave  the  captain?" 
"Yes,  I  do!" 

' '  What !     Forsake  him  now ! " 
"Who  the  de\'il  said  anything  about  for- 
saking him  ?     There's  a  good  deal  of  difierence 
between  leaving  and  forsaking,  I  take  it. " 

"I  know  you  will  act  for  the  best,  my  good 
follow!" 

"Strike  tents!"  echoed  through  the  camp 
from  without. 

' '  Had  we  not  better  wake  the  captain,  Sliss 
Alibamo  ?  It  may  be  the  only  chance  he  will 
get  to  say  anji:hing. " 

"  He  is  moving— he  wakes !" 
Captain  Hayward  opened  his  eyes,  and  gazed 
around.     His  face  while  sleeping  had  worn  a 
smile,  but  it  had  faded. 

"Good  morning,  dear  friends,"  said  Hay- 
ward.  "You  have  been  watching  with  me 
all  night,  I  fear." 

' '  We  have  slept,  however — that  is,  I  have 
slept, "  answered  Alibamo. 

' '  I  fear  but  little.     You  must  not  do  this, 
Alibamo  ;  you  will  sink  under  the  fatigues  you 
impose  upon  yourself.     You  will  require  all 
your  strength.    And  have  you  slept,  Nettleton  ?" 
"Do  you  think  I'd  be  such  a  dam  skunk  as 
to  sleep  when  I  might  be  doing  something  ? 
No,  I  ain't  quite  so  mean  as  that." 
"What  have  you  been  doing  ?" 
"  Making  up  my  mind — that's  all." 
"  An'^1  have  been  dreaming,  AUbamo.  Oh! 
It  was  a  heavenly  vision !" 

"  What  were  you  dreaming,  captain  ?" 
' '  I  was  standing  upon  the  margin  of  the 
lake  near  my  own  dear  home.  Far  out  on  the 
waters  I  heard  a  sound,  low  and  musical  as  an- 
gels' whisperings.  I  could  not  catch  the  words; 
still  its  melody  enchanted  me,  and  filled  my 
soul  with  rapture.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  ap- 
proached, and  louder  and  louder  became  those 
strains,  until  the  mingling  of  ten  thousand 
angel  voices  seemed  to  make  the  very  waters 
dance  with  rapturous  delight.  My  brain  grew 
dizzy,  and  I  sank  upon  the  ground.  I  raised 
my  eyes,  an^  gazing  through  the  mist,  tinted 
with  rainbow  hues  reflected  from  the  rays  of 
the  golden  sunset,  I  saw  a  thousand  fairy 
forms  gliding  from  point  to  point,  and  tril- 
ling forth  their  lays.  And  on  the  brov,'  of  each 
I  saw  emblazoned  forth  the  magic  word  of  Lib- 
erty !  The  sight  revived  me,  and  springing  up,  I 
cried  :  '  Who  are  thoijg  lovely  beings  who  coiSe 
forth  with  my  country  s  jewel  ghttering  on  their 
brow  ?'  A  voice  rephed  :  '  They  are  Colmn- 
bia's  daughters— their  fetters  have  been  bro- 
ken— they  are  free  again!'     'Let  mo  embrace 


them — they  are  my  sisters!'  I  cried,  bu^  at 
that  moment  I  was  seized  by  an  iron  hattfl, 
and  borne  from  the  spot.  So  rapidily  M'as  I 
whii-led  along  that  my  senses  fled.  "SHien  I 
returned  to  consciousness,  I  found  mysc4f  en- 
veLiped  in  a  dismal  cloud,  while  at  my  feet  a 
thousand  hissing  sei-pents,  which  resembled 
Hghtning,  coiled  around,  but  could  not  harm 
me.  I  heard  the  di-eadful  thundcT-s,  as  they 
burst  over  me,  but  still  I  feared  not.  I  raised 
my  eyes,  and  as  a  cloud  rolled  by  it  revealed 
to  my  astonished  gaze  the  form  of  a  man 
standing  upon  the  very  edge  of  a  dark  cloud, 
while  below  him  was  a  precipice,  millions  of 
feet.  My  blood  was  chilled  ■within  me  lest  ha 
should  fall.  I  heard  his  cursings,  and  I  saw 
him  reaching  forward.  I  looked  farther,  and 
upon  another  cloud  I  saw  my  sister  standing. 
She  was  clothed  in  white,  and  on  her  brow  a 
golden  wreath  was  shining.  The  clouds  were 
rolling  fast  together,  and  he,  that  fiend-like 
form  upon  the  other  side,  was  reaching  for- 
ward, and  exulting  in  the  thought  how  soon 
he  would  have  her  in  his  grasp,  and  hurl  her 
down  that  awful  chasm.  My  brain  was  reel- 
ing, and  my  heart  bursting  within  me  as  I 
gazed  upon  this  scene.  I  tried  to  speak,  but 
terror  held  me  dumb.  She  was  almost  in  his 
grasp,  when  my  sister  raised  a  dagger,  I  heard 
a  voice  exclaim,  'Hold  fast  that  steel!'  I 
looked,  and  emblazoned  on  its  pohshed  blade, 
read  the  word  virtue!  The  villain  saw  it, 
and  sprang  back  with  a  cry  of  terror.  I  saw 
the  cloud  on  which  he  stood  turning  to  blood, 
while  that  upon  the  other  side  was  tinged  with 
glorious  beauty.  The  thunder  rent  the  dismal 
paU,  and  breaking  it  in  pieces,  I  saw  the  vil- 
lain hiirled  ^nto  the  depths  below,  while  hide- 
ous fiends  held  their  orgies  around  him.  And 
then  commenced  the  strains  I  heard  upon  the 
lake.  My  sister  joined  the  chorus,  and  gazing 
on  me,  smiled.  Columbia's  daughters  came 
and  bore  that  loved  one  to  my  heart,  and  as  I 
clasped  her  close,  I  woke,  suffocating  A\ith  ex- 
cessive joy'" 

"O  captain!  tnat  di-eam  should  make  you 
happy — vei-y  happy.     It  fills  my  heart  with 

joy!"" 

' '  "WTiy  so,  Ahbamo  ?" 

"Because  your  troubles  will  end  in  th« 
same  manner.     I  feel  sure  they  will." 

"It  cannot  be !" 

"And  why  not?" 

"Because  my  sister  was  prominent  in  my 
vision,  she  can  be  in  no  manner  connected 
with  me  here!" 

' '  She  may  hear  of  your  misfoi-tune  and  visit 
you  here." 

"God  forbid:  No!  she  has  no  means  of 
hearing  from  me.  And,  if  she  had,  I  would 
rather  die  a  thousand  deaths  than  have  that 
angel  sister  gaze  upon  my  sufferings.  It  would 
add  to  them  a  thousand  fold,  and  that  would 
drive  me  mad. " 

"  Are  you  ready  to  depart  ?"  asked  Branch, 
who  entered  the  tent  at  that  moment. 

" Quite  ready.  Am  I  to- walk?"  asked  Hay- 
ward. 

"  No,  you  are  to  ride.  Do  yon  prefer  a  horse 
or  a  carriage  ?" 

"It  matters  very  little,  as  the  distance  is 
not  fer,"  answered  Hayward. 


32 


THE  BOEDEB  SPY  ;  OE  THE 


"Then  I  wiJl  send  a  horse  around  to  yonx 
tent.  I  intend  also  to  grant  you  a  great  (a,- 
vor!" 

' '  I  shall  decline  any  favors  at  your  hands ! " 
replied  Hay~\vard. 

' '  You  did  not  hear  what  that  favor  is  to  be  ! " 

"WeU,  sir!" 

"I  intend  to  permit  Alibamo  to  accompany 
you  as  far  as  Springfield.  But  to-morrow  you 
are  to  take  your  last  farewell  of  her.  I  have 
my  plans  for  both  you  and  her  arranged. " 

Branch  left  the  tent.  In  a  few  moments 
horses  were  brought,  and  Hayward,  -^-ith  some 
difficulty  gained  the  saddle.  Nettleton  helped 
Alibamo  iato  her  seat.  By  this  time  Branch 
came  up  in  company  with  some  twenty  horse- 
men, who  were  to  act  as  the  guard,  and  the 
pai'ty  prepared  to  depart. 

"  Is  not  this  young  man  to  accompany  us? 
He  has  attended  to  the  cajitain's  wounds,  and 
appears  familiar  vdth  the  business.  He  is  a 
poor,  foolish  fcUow,  and  will  bo  of  little  ser- 
vice as  a  soldier!"  said  Alibamo,  pointing  to 
Ncttlcton. 

"Yes,  he  can  go,  if  he  will  walk!"  replied 
Branch. 

"  Will  you  go  ?"  asked  Alibamo. 

"  "Well,  I  dou't  cai-e  much  aboiit  it  one  way 
or  t'other.  But  if  ?/ou  want  mc  to  go  \Tith  you 
very  much,  I  will,  Miss  Alibamo,"  replied 
Nettleton. 

The  party  set  off,  and  Xettleton  trudged  along 
after  them,  with  his  usixal  rickety  and  un- 
steady motion,  whistling  as  he  proceeded. 

They  had  proceeded  about  two  miles  from 
camp  upon  the  Springfield  road,  when  Branch 
ordered.a  halt. 

"Where  a.re  those  hand-cuffs  ?"  he  asked. 

"Here,  sir!"  replied  one  of  the  soldiers, 

"  Place  them  on  his  hands.  No  !  not  that 
way.  Chain  his  hands  behind  him!  But 
wait.  I  vnR  reserve  them  for  future  use. 
Leave  his  hands  free." 

Hayward  spoke  not.  In  the  course  of  three 
or  four  hours  they  reached  Springfield,  and 
halted  in  front  of  the  hotel  building  which 
had  been  iised  as  a  rebel  hospital  since  the 
battle  at  Wilson's  creek. 

"Dismoimt!"  said  Branch,  in  a  voice  of 
excitement,  mingled  with  hatred. 

Hayward  obej'ed. 

"  Is  Davis  here  ?"  asked  Branch. 

"Here,  sir!"  replied  a  soldier,  stepping  for- 
ward. 

"  Has  the  person  I  wrote  for  arrived?" 

"Yes,  she  is  in  a  room  above!"  was  the 
reply. 

"  0  my  God !"  groaned  Alibamo. 

"Take  that  woman  away,"  said  Branch, 
pointing  toward  Alibamo.  Then  he  added, 
as  she  was  being  led  away, 

' '  You  shall  see  your  captain  to-morrow.  And 
I  will  show  you  an  amusing  sight.  You  know 
it  is  Friday,  hangman's  daj'."  Then  turning  to 
Hayward,  he  added  : 

"  Now  will  I  bend  your  proud  heart.  I  wiU 
show  you  a  pretty  sight,  presently,  and  to-mor- 
row, at  three  o'clock,  ?re  icill  hnve  a  grand  review 
in  the  fair  ground!    Come,  foUow  me." 

Hayward  turned  to  speak  with  Nettleton, 
who  had  been  standing  beside  him  but  a  mo- 
ment before,  but  he  had  disappeared. 


"  Why  do  yon  delay  ?"  asked  Branch. 

"Because  it  pleases  me  to  do  so,"  replied 
Hayward. 

' '  Bring  a  set  of  chains.  Put  them  on  hia 
ankles ! "    The  order  was  obeyed. 

' '  Drag  biiT)  along ! " 

"I  will  follow  you,  sir,"  replied  Hayward. 

He  soon  reached  the  main  hall  of  the  build- 
ing, and,  as  Hayward  f  lUowcd  his  captor,  the 
chiins  clanked  heavily  upon  the  floor,  nnd 
echoed  dimly  throughout  the  building. 

"You  shall  behold  a  friend  now,  and  yon 
will  think  better  of  my  generosity!"  snid 
Branch,  as  ho  threw  open  a  side-door.  Ihiy- 
ward  cutered- 

A  wild  scream  rang  through  the  room,  and 
a  lovely  female  sprang  forward,  into  the  arms 
of  Hayward- 

"  My  brother  !  0  my  brother  !"  were  the  only 
words  spoken,  and  she  became  unconscious. 

"  llamie — Mamie — Great  God !  why  are  you 
here  ?  Mamie — sister,  look  up — speak  to  m« 
— speak,  or  I  shall  die — Mamie — O  God !  she 
is  dead  — dead!" 

And  HajT\-ard  sank  to  the  floor,  still  holding 
his  sister  to  his  heart,  and  burst  into  tears. 

"Ah!  ha!  ha!  ha!  Humbled  at  last!"  cried 
Branch,  as  he  left  the  room. 


CH.\PTER  XL 
The  War  Scjiii — The  Discovery. 

Softly — Boftly  as  the  creeping  panther — Dc  Sola. 

We  left  Fall-leaf,  Margrave,  and  Johnson, 
as  they  were  following  the  party  who  had  re- 
captured Haj-ward  and  Alibamo.  As  they  de- 
scended the  mountain,  the  rear  of  the  rebel 
army  were  in  sight.  At  night-faU  it  halted, 
and  upon  the  broad  prairie,  near  an  oak  grove, 
the  camp  was  soon  formed. 

"Can  you  distinguish  the  rebel  general's 
headquarters?"  asked  Margrave. 

"I  was  trying  to  do  so,"  replied  JOjJLSon, 
and  his  eyes  wandered  from  point  to  point. 

"  Do  you  remember  the  style  of  his  tent?" 

"Perfectly.  It  is  of  the  pattern  kno-«"n  as 
the  tcall-tent,  but  of  large  size.  And  near  it 
should  be  about  a  dozen  others  of  the  same 
description.     There  it  is ! " 

"  Those  in  the  centre — near  the  grove  ?" 

"Yes — don't  you  see  the  rebel  ensign  wav- 
ing over  it  ?" 

"Very  distinctly  now.  But  I  do  not  believe 
Alibamo,  or  the  captain,  will  be  placed  near 
headquarters.  They  are  the  prisoners  of  that 
fellow.  Branch."      % 

"  What  shall  we  do,  Johnson  ?"  ^ed  Mar- 
grave. 

"We  must  enter  their  Hnes  to-night,  and 
ascertain  where  our  finends  are,  and  listen  to 
the  conversation  of  the  officers,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, learn  what  is  to  be  their  fate,"  replied 
Johnson. 

' '  And  we  must  rememb^  that  Captain  Hay- 
ward is  not  to  be  forgotte*  He  is  not  dead, 
or  he  would  have  been  left  on  the  other  side 
of  the  mountain,  and  the  ilrops  of  blood  which 
we  frequently  saw  along  the  hne  of  march,  is 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  EEBEL  CAJIP. 


33 


evidence  that  some  woiinded  person  or  persons 
are  ■vdtli  the  rebels.  This  brave  captain  risked 
his  life  for  my  sister,  and  I  shall  risk  my  life  a 
thousand  times  for  him." 

"We  must  fii-st  creep  near  the  sentinels, 
and  when  the  nine  o'clock  relief  is  marched 
out,  we  can  listen,  and  gain  possession  of  the 
countersign.  This  ■^•ill  be  of  some  assistance 
to  us  in  case  of  challenge." 

' '  Xo — no !  White  brother  sta}'  here  !  Indian 
go — creep — softly ! "  said  Fall-leaf. 

"No,  my  brother,  you  are  suifering  too  se- 
verely ■with  5'our  wounds.  We  cannot  permit 
you  to  do  this,  while  we  remain  inactive." 

"Look  out  for  the  pickets.  There  is  one  of 
their  fires,"  said  Margrave,  as  they  approached 
the  oak  grove.  The  party  verged  their  course, 
and,  in  a  few  moments,  were  \\ithin  a  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  camp,  concealed  almost  en- 
tirely by  the  thick  wood  through  which  they 
were  passing.     Here  they  paused. 

"The  darkness  favors  us!"  remarked  Mar- 
grave. ' '  The  moon  which  was  shining  so 
brightly  last  night,  is  now  entirelj'  obscured 
by  thick  clouds.  We  must  wait  until  after  tat- 
too, and  then  enter  the  camp  in  different  di- 
rections." 

' ' lio — m :  alone ! "  repLe :1  Fall-leaf.  ' '  You— 
yoTj — me,  go — all  get  kill— no  help  Alibamo ! 
Me  go  now !  I  get  kill — you  go.  You  get  kill, 
you  go.  I  no  get  kill,  come  back.  I  no  come 
back,  you  go ! " 

"The  Indian  means  to  express  himself  to 
the  effect,  that  it  is  more  safe  for  one  to  go 
alone,  and  if  he  should  get  killed  or  taken, 
another  could  go  the  next  night,  and  another 
the  next?  or,  that,  if  two  of  us  should  be 
killed,  the  thu'd  could  retimi  and  procure  more 
assistance  for  Ahbamo,  when  he  had  learned 
their  filial  destination.  We  will  let  the  Indian 
go  first.  I  will  wi-ite  a  few  words  upon  a  bit 
of  pajDer,  and  he  may  get  an  opportunity  to 
give  it  to  my  sister." 

The  drums  had  beat  the  tattoo,  and  the  re- 
lief had  passed  its  rounds.  The  party  listened 
attentively,  but  failed  to  get  the  cotmtersign, 
which  was  given  in  a  whisj)er.  The  camp  be- 
came, qmet,  and  the  lights  were  mostly  extin- 
guished. 

"Me  go  now!  softly — softly,"  said  the  In- 
dian. 

"Fall-leaf,  give  this  paper  to  mj' sister  if 
you  can  get  an  opportunity.  If  j^ou  are  dis- 
covered, and  compelled  to  fly,  we  will  aU  meet 
at  yonder  rock. 

The  Indian,  without  repljdng,  took  the  bit 
of  paper,  and  started  for  the  camp.  Softly  as 
the  creeping  panther  he  worked  his  way  along. 
He  passed  the  outer  row  of  tents  unperceived, 
and  was  now  faiiiy  within  the  rebel  camp. 
With  cat-Hke  stealth  he  crept  along  from  tent 
to  tent,  listening  at  each,  but  net  a  s.jund  was 
heard  save  the  deep  breathing  of  the  sleepers 
within.  At  length  the  Indian  reached  a  vn.de 
avenue,  which  ran  along  before  a  better  class 
of  tents  than  those  he  had  pre\-ioiisly  passed, 
and  from  which  were  sti-eaming  Lights.  He 
listened,  and  could  plainly  distinguish  voices 
within,  but  there  appeared  here  a  difficulty. 
Directly  in  front  of  the  one  he  wished  to  reach, 
a  fsentinel  was  stationed,  and,  if  he  attempted 
to  cross  the  broad  avenue  at  that  point,  it 
3 


could  not  fail  to  attract  the  watchful  guardian's 
attention. 

Just  at  that  moment  two  forms  emerged 
from  the  tent,  and  came  directly  toward  Mm. 
It  was  but  the  work  of  an  instant- for  the  In- 
dian to  conceal  himself  in  the  long  prairia 
grass,  which  fortunately  had  not  been  entirely 
trodden  down  at  this  point.  He  was  passed 
unobseiwed,  and  he  distinctly  heard  the  name 
of  "  Hayward"  spoken.  He  watched,  and  saw 
them  enter  a  tent,  some  twentj'  rods  from  that 
from  which  they  had  emerged. 

The  Indian  crejjt  cautiously  along.  About 
half-way  between  the  two  tents  to  which  hi  i 
attention  had  been  thus  especially  drawn,  ho 
found  the  hghts  extinguished,  and  he  succeed- 
ed in  crossing  the  avenue  unobserved.  He 
was  now  in  the  rear  of  what  he  supposed  to  be 
the  general  commanding  and  his  staff  officers' 
quarters.  He  soon  came  near  the  tent  into 
which  he  had  seen  the  two  persons  enter,  and 
Tsending  his  ear  to  the  ground,  he  distinctly 
heard  the  voices  of  those  within,  but  could  not 
distinguish  the  words  spoken.  He  drew  near- 
er, but  saw  that  a  guard  was  stationed  on  eve- 
ry side,  and  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  ap- 
proach nearer  without  being  discovered.  Ha 
could  now  hear  the  voices  plainly,  and  was  not 
long  in  discovering  that  both  Alibamo  and  the 
captain  were  confined  there.  Some  sti-atagem 
must  be  resorted  to,  in  order  to  attract  the  at- 
tention of  the  guard  in  another  direction.  The 
Indian  had  aheady  torn  up  the  long  prahie- 
grass,  and  wrapped  it  around  him  in  such  a. 
manner  that  he  would  not  easily  be  seen,  so 
nearly  did  he  resemble  the  earth  around  him. 
He  remained  perfectly  quiet  for  a  moment,  as 
if  deeply  thinking.  At  length  he  comujenced 
a  search  upon  the  ground  around  him.  He 
raised  a  stone  about  the  size  of  a  large  apple, 
and  hurled  it  toward  the  woods,  in  the  rear  of 
the  last  row  of  tents.  It  struck  against  the 
tree-tops  and  then  fell  to  the  ground,  making 
considerable  noise.  The  guard  instantly  turned 
his  attention  in  that  direction.  He  listened, 
but  hearing  nothing  more,  he  started  with  cau- 
tious steps  toward  the  wood,  his  gun  at  a  ready. 
The  Indian  at  once  took  advantage  of  his  ab- 
sence from  his  post,  and  darted  unseen,  close 
behind  the  tent.  He  prostrated  himself  upon 
the  groimd,  and  dra'wing  the  grass  around  Mm, 
and  the  tent-flap  partially  over  Ms  form,  he 
was  safe  from  detection  so  long  as  he  did  not 
move.  The  guard  discovering  nothing,  re- 
turned to  his  post,  but  the  Indian  remained 
quiet,  listening  to  all  the  conversation  within. 
He  became  convinced  that  Nettleton  was  a 
friend,  and  finally  attracted  his  attention,  ho 
being  seated  back  of  the  couch  upon  which 
Hayward  was  lying,  and  very  near  FaU-leaf. 
The  Indian  waved  the  paper  in  Ms  hand,  and 
then  let  it  fall  upon  the  ground.  In  an  Mstant 
he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  dashing  the  guard  to 
the  ground,  darted  for  the  woods.  He  leaped 
the  fence  just  as  the  sentmel  fired  upon  Mm,  but 
the  ball  whistled  by  -without  harmmg  FaU-leaf. 

He  made  all  haste  to  join  his  friends  whom 
he  found  awaiting  him.  It  was  decided  to 
make  no  further  attempts  to  enter  camp,  but 
they  determined  to  follow  on,  hoping  the  pris- 
oners might  be  left  at  some  pomt  imder  a  small 
guard,  wMch  could  be  attacked  and  oyercoma. 


34 


THE  BOEDER  SPY  :    OR  THE 


On  tlw  morning  the  squad  tmder  the  com- 
mand ot  Branch  left  the  main  army,  our 
friends  were  v.ell  satisfied  that  their  destina- 
.  tion  was  Springfield,  and  Johnson  determined 
to  hasten  hack  to  the  Union  army,  and  try  to 
procure  assistance.  Margrave  and  Fall-leaf 
followed  on,  and  saw  his  sister  Alibamo  and 
Captain  Hayward,  enter  the  rebel  hospital. 
As  both  were  well  known  in  Springfield,  Mar- 
grave having  escaped  from  that  place  but  a 
short  time  previous,  assisted  by  the  Indian, 
their  sitiiation  was  by  no  means  an  enviable 
one.  But  they  mingled  with  the  loungers,  and 
soon  learned  that  a  hanging  was  to  como  off 
the  next  day  at  three  o'clock.  The  great 
event  was  to  take  place  in  the  Fair-Ground. 


CHAPTER  Xn. 

Eangbvj  Day— The  Friends— ne  Plotr—The 
Attack. 

There  13  no  pang  in  thy  pharp  wedge  of  etcel, 
After  that  parting. — Pijthias. 

For  some  hours,  Hayward  and  his  sister  were 
permitted  to  remain  alone.  Night  was  fast  ap- 
proaching. Nothing  was  heard  without,  but 
the  coarse  laugh  and  jests  of  the  soldiers.  As 
Hayward  held  his  sister  in  his  arms,  he  mur- 
mured : 

"Would  to  God  she  could  ever  remain  un- 
conscious, or  die  to-night.  I  feel  that  a  fate 
far  worse  than  death  awaits  her,  when  I  am 
gone,  and  to-morrow  will  surely  be  the  fatal 
day.  Oh,  may  God  in  his  mercy  protect  this 
darling  one!" 

"Have  I  been  dreaming?"  she  sobbed,  as 
she  returned  to  consciousness,  and  opened  her 
eyes.  "I  saw  my  brother  in  chains,  and  I 
heard  their  di-eadl'ul  clankings  upon  the  floor." 

Her  eyes  met  those  of  her  Isrother,  and  with 
a  shudder,  she  bui-ied  her  face  in  his  breast,  as 
if  she  would  shut  out  some  terrible  vision. 

"Mamie — darling  sister,  don't  you  know 
me  ?"  asked  Haj'^vard. 

"Oh!  yes,"  she  cried,  starting  up,  "It  is 
my  brother.  He  is  with  me,  and  I  am  safe 
and  happy.  0  brother,  I  met  such  rude  men 
here,  I  cannot  remain.     Let  us  go  at  once." 

She  started  toward  the  door. 

"Come  back,  sister,  I  ■uish  to  talk  "with you, 
and  I  -wish  you  to  listen  calmly." 

"Calmly!  What  do  you  mean  by  that 
word?  Ah!  those  chains!  I  have  not  been 
dreaming !  It  is  a  terrible  reality.  What  means 
this,  brother?" 

"Come  "here,  Mamie,  come  close  to  my 
heart,  and  let  me  talk  ydth.  you." 

She  obeyed,  but  as  Haj-^vard  placed  his  arms 
around  her,  she  said  : 

"Oh!  that  iron  is  so  cold — it  chills  my 
'heart.     Let  me  remove  those  chains,  brother." 

"No,  sister.  Let  them  alone,  and  listen  to 
me!" 

"First  answer  me!  Are  these  men  your 
friends  ?" 

Hayward  could  not  reply.  His  feelings  al- 
most overcame  him,  and  he  did  not  wish  his 
sister  to  discover  any  emotion  on  his  part. 

"You  are  silent.     These  men  are  not  your 


j  friends,   and  you  are  a  prisoner!      Oh!    my 
heart  will  break!"   and  she   sobbed  convul- 
sively. 
I      ' '  Don't  weep  so,  dear  sister.     Don't  weep. " 
'      "I  cannot  help  it.     Oh!  let  mo  weep — let 
me  rest  upon  your  heart,  brother,  and  weep 
my  life  away !     It  will  be  sweet  to  die  here  1" 
"You  must  Tf'd  die,  Mamie,  but  hvo  for  me. 
I  hope  to-morrow  I  shall  bo  free.      I  have 
friends  who  will  not  forsake  me ! " 

' '  And  you  are  a  prisoner ! "  she  sobbed. 
"Yes,  but  try  and   compose  yourself.      I 
have  much  to  say  to  you  !" 

"Yes,  I  will  be  calm — I  will  listen,  for  I  feel 
that  a  tenible  fate  hangs  over  you,  my  brother. 
Oh !  I  am  glad  that  I  am  here.  I'll  weep  no 
more,  but  I  will  comfort  you.  There,  do  not 
look  so  pale,  your  little  sister  is  with  you,  and 
will  share  your  fate,  whatever  it  may  be." 

Hayward  bowed  his  head,  while  a  convulsive 
tremor  shook  his  frame. 

"  Come,  I'll  weep  no  more — 111  comfort  you. 
Think,  brother,  it  can  only  be  death,  and  j'our 
spirit  will  scarcely  have  taken  its  flight  to  ihat 
better  world,  ere  mine  will  meet  you  there. 
Oh !  we  shall  not  long  be  separated. " 

"Mamie,  we  -will  talk  no  more  of  death.  I 
do  not  believe  such  will  be  my  fate.  I  have 
already  been  infoiTued  that  friends  are  at  work. 
I  shall  be  rescued  from  this  place,  and  if  I  am 
not,  my  sentence  is  not  immediate  death.  So 
weep  no  more,  but  Listen.  How  came  you 
here,  Mamie?" 

"I  received  a  letter  tolling  me  that  my 
brother  had  been  wounded  in  battle,  and  that 
you  -vsished  me  to  come  direct  to  Springfield. 
I  saw  by  the  papers  that  the  Union  army  were 
marching  for  this  place,  and  I  supposed  you 
were  with  them,  and  that  I  should  arrive  here 
about  the  same  time  you  did.  I  did  not  hesi- 
tate a  moment,  but  came  forward  according 
to  my  directions  to  Eolla.  I  was  there  met  by 
two  men  who  brought  me  to  this  place." 

' '  Ah  !  I  see  it  all  now.  That  villain  Braneh 
must  have  taken  your  letter  from  my  pocket 
while  I  was  insensible,  and  thus  learning  your 
address,  sent  for  you ! " 

"But  to  what  end,  brother  ?  He  is  not  your 
friend  or  you  would  not  call  him  ^"illain  ! " 

"  I  cannot  teU,  dear  sister.  But  let  me  en- 
join on  yon  to  be  firm  whatever  may  occtrr. 
Even  though  you  see  me  march  upon  the 
scaffold,  be  firm,  and  hope.  Remember  what 
you  said  ;  it  ^^■ill  only  be  death !  K  my  ene- 
mies Mish  to  torture  me,  the  more  keenly 
feel,  the  more  they  will  exult.  Hark !  Some 
one  approaches.  We  shall  not  long  remain  in 
ignorance.  Remember,  darling,  let  not  a 
word  or  even  a  tear  betray  more  than  ordinary 
emotion. " 

The  door  was  thrown  open,  and  Branch 
entered.  Hayward  seated  himself  upon  a  rude 
box  and  Mamie  knelt  by  his  side. 

"  How  is  your  wound,  captain  ?"  asked 
Branch. 

"It  troubles  me  very  little,  sir!"  was  tho 
reply. 

"I  do  not  believe  you.  You  say  that  to 
spare  your  sister  pain.  You  are  suffering, 
and  j'ou  know  it !"  growled  Branch. 

Hayward  frowned,  but  did  not  speak.  Ha 
sister  crept  close  to  his  breast. 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  REBEL  CAMP. 


S3 


"Doyoii  know  the  federnl  army  are  with- 
in two  days  m.a-ch  uf  tliis  place  ?"  continued 
Branch. 

"  I  did  not  know  it !"  answered  Hay  ward. 

"Don't  you  wish  they  would  come  upon  us 
to-night  ?  "We  have  oiily  twenty-two  hiuidred 
men  here,  and  they  with  forty  thousand  might 
difeat  us,  and  rescue  you  and  your  lovely 
sister." 

Hayward  made  no  reply. 

"Oh!  I  ^viIl  open  your  mouth  presently. 
You  saw  the  Fair-Ground  as  we  passed  ?  You 
won't  speak?  Well,  I  ■n"ill.  If  you  could  only 
look  inside  the  high  board  enclosure,  you 
might  discover  a  platform,  surrounding  a  large 
tree.  From  one  of  the  limbs  a  rope  is  hanging. 
It  is  for  your  neck.  You  are  to  die  to-morrow 
at  three  o'clock." 

Hayward  did  not  move  a  muscle,  but  Mamie, 
■\"?j[th  a  groan  of  agony,  half  suppressed,  threw 
her  arms  around  her  brother's  neck,  and  clung 
the  closei'. 

"It  will  be  interesting  to  die  thus,  noble 
captain,  kno\\'ing  that  your  friends  are  but  a 
few  miles  distant.  And  those  lovely  arms 
which  now  encircle  you,  will  not  Avish  to  clasp 
your  neck  when  you  are  cold  in  death.  They 
shall  be  removed  to  mine  !" 

JIamie  had  started  to  her  feet,  and  stagger- 
ing forward,  she  knelt  before  the  wretch,  and 
sobbed : 

"  Oh !  spare  my  brother ! " 

' '  Mamie  ! "  shrieked  Haj^ward.    ' '  Up ! " 

The  maiden  started,  and  sprang  into  her 
brother's  arms  again. 

"Forgive  a  moment  of  weakness,  my  broth- 
er ! "  she  said,  as  she  caressed  him. 

"Miss  Hayward,"  said  Branch,  "Your 
brother's  life  may  be  sa;ved.  General  Price 
offered  him  a  pardon,  if  he  would  accept  a 
commission  in  our  army.  Persuade  him  to 
accept  it. "         , 

Miss  Hayward  glanced  at  her  brother,  and 
then  turning  to  Branch,  she  repKed  : 

"And  become  companion  with  such  as  yo" 

"  Is  not  that  preferable  to  death  ?" 

"  I'U  answer  you  no  more!"  said  Mamie, 
turning  to  her  brother. 

"  WeU,  I  will  leave  you  to  pleasant  reflec- 
tions. To-morrow  at  one  o'clock  you  will 
leave  this  place,  and  have  the  pleasiire  of  a 
cart  ride  as  far  as  the  gallows.  Your  sister 
may  remain  with  you  to-night,  and  enjoy  the 
ride  with  you  to-morrow.  After  that  I  shall 
take  charge  of  her. " 

Branch  left  the  room. 

"  It  is  all  over  now,  brother ! " 

Miss  Hayward  could  no  longer  restrain  her 
feelings,  but  sinking  do\vn,  groaned  in  agony 
of  soul.  The  tears  burst  forth,  and  long  and 
bitterly  she  wept.  She  could  not  be  consoled. 
Her  brother  assui-ed  her  that  he  felt  confident 
he  would  be  rescued,  if  his  friends  were  at 
that  time  so  short  a  distance  from  him.  And 
they  might  be  much  nearer.  But  she  could 
not  be  comforted.  At  times  her  sobs  became 
almost  shrieks,  and  then  they  would  cease,  as 
if  from  very  exhaustion.  It  seemed  as  if  her 
very  heart  was  made  of  tears.  Nature  could 
beat  but  little  more.  At  last  she  sank  into  a 
fitful  slumber,  resting  upon  her  brother's 
bosom.      Ever  and  anon  she  would  start,  a 


■wild  cry  would  break  from  her  lips,  and  she 
woiild  cling  with  nil  the  power  of  madness 
about  his  neck,  and  beg  him  not  to  leave  her. 
Her  starts,  her  sobs,  her  groans,  her  screams, 
were  terrible,  and  tins  the  night  wore  slowly 
on  mid  dark  and  gloom.  Hayward  slept  not. 
Occasionally  ho  pressed  his  lips  to  hi.s  sister's 
forehead,  which  no.v  was  icy  cold,  now  burn- 
ing with  a  feverish  heat.  Sometimes  her 
breath  would  appear  cntu-ely  to  have  stopped, 
and  then  her  brother,  in  a  voice  of  agony, 
would  call  tipon  her  name,  but  a  sob  or  groan 
would  tell  him  she  yet  lived.  Toward  morn- 
ing she  grew  more  quiet,  and  her  repose 
seemed  sweet,  and  undisturbed  by  frighful 
dreams.     At  length  she  started  up  and  cried 

' '  They  are  coming !     See,  brother ! " 

"Who  are  coming,  dear  sister?"  asked 
Hayward. 

"Oh!  I  have  been  dreaming,  but  it  was 
sweet.  Are  you  here,  brother  ?  It  is  so  dark 
I  cannot  see  j-ou ! " 

* '  Yes,  Mamie,  I  am  here.  But,  what  have 
you  been  dreaming  ?" 

"  Where  are  we,  brother?  Oh!  I  remember 
that  bad  man.  I  saw  him  in  my  di-eam.  He 
was  hurled  to  destruction  from  a  terrible  pre- 
cipice. He  was  standing  upon  a  cloud,  dark 
and  massive,  but  the  thunders  broke  it,  and  he 
feU!" 

"Go  on!"  cried  Hayward. 

'  I  saw  you,  brother.  You  were  standing  on 
a  golden  cloud,  just  by  his  side.  The  light- 
nings flashed  around  your  head,  but  did  not 
harm  you.  And  when  I  called  you,  ten  thou- 
sand fairy  forms  appeared,  and  bore  you  to  my 
arms.  And  then  I  saw  all  yoiir  friends  ad- 
vancing, and  they  smiled  upon  you." 

"And  that  dream  has  given  you  hope,  has  it 
not?" 

"Yes,  it  has,  dear  brother ! " 

"  It  is  very  strange !"  said  Hayward. 

"That  I  should  dream  thus,  brother?" 

"  No,  but  that  last  night  I  had  the  very  same 
dream!" 

' '  0  brother,  God  is  good ! " 

Hayward  told  her  the  particulars  of  his  own 
dream. 

"I  shall  hope  to  the  last!"  replied  Miss 
Hayward,  evidently  cheered  by  the  vision. 

The  morning  dawned.  Hayward  looked 
pale  and  haggard.  The  chains  had  galled  him, 
and  he  was  faint  and  weak.  This  he  endeav- 
vored  to  hide  from  his  sister,  but  she  obseiwed 
it,  and  tried  to  cheer  him  with  consoling  words. 

At  length  some  coarse  food  was  brought,  and 
placed  just  ■within  the  door.  But  it  remained 
untouched.  As  the  day  advanced,  Haj'Avard 
said  : 

"Mamie,  what  will  you  do  in  case  of  the 
worst?" 

"If  you  die,  do  you  mean,  brother?" 

"Yes,  darling!" 

' '  Don't  trouble  yom-self  as  to  what  I  ■will  do 
affei'  you  are  dead,  for  if  this  must  be  so,  I 
shall  go  -svitli  you. " 

The  door  was  thro^wn  open  and  Branch 
entered. 

"It  is  twelve  o'clock,"  he  said.  "Miiia 
ready!" 

' '  We  are  ready,  sir ! "  answered  Hayward. 

"It  is  a  pity  you  should  die,  Hayward.     I 


36 


THE  BORDER  SPY ;  OR  THE 


tell  yon  what  I  ■will  do.     Let  me  marry  that 
lovely  sister  of  yours,  and  I  wdll  set  you  free !" 

"Dog! "echoed  Hayward. 

"What  do  you  say,  Miss  Hayward?' 

"I repeat  my  brother's  word  most  heartily !" 
replied  Mamie. 

"Oh!  you  scornful  little  devil,  you  are  a 
copy  of  your  brother.  But  you  will  both 
repent  your  words.     What  ho !  guards !" 

Four  of  the  guard  entered  the  room. 

"Take  them  along,"  said  Branch. 

"We  will  walk,''  replied  Hayward.  Ashe 
led  his  sister  from  the  room  he  said  • 

"Think  of  our  dreams!" 

Hayward  walked  erect,  almost  carrying, 
rather  than  leading  his  sister.  When  he 
reached  the  street  he  said  : 

"Branch,  my  sister  will  not  bo  able  to  en- 
dture  this  scene.     Let  her  remain  here!" 

'•No,  no,"  begged  Mamie,  "let  me  go  with 
you,  brother — I  will  be  very  calm — see  I  ca-i 
walk  alone. "  But  that  pale  face  and  trembling 
form  seemed  little  calculated  to  undergo  the 
terrible  scenes  which  must  follow. 

Alibamo  was  already  seated  in  a  rough  cart 
which  stood  before  the  door.  Hayward  as- 
sisted his  sister  into  it,  and  then  entered  him- 
self, but  stood  erect,  while  the  females  were 
provided  with  seats.  As  they  were  driven 
onward,  Branch  rode  by  their  side  upon  his 
horse.  A  crowcl  were  following  after  them, 
and  taunts  and  jeers  wero  heard  on  every  side. 

' '  Oh !  that  I  had  a  sword  within  my  grasp, 
and  was  free  from  these  shackles  for  a  moment, 
I  would  teach  those  curs  ci\Tlity,"  cried  Haj- 
ward. 

"Oh!  it  won't  matter  to  you  long,"  said 
Branch. 

The  procession  had  proceeded  about  a  mile 
from  Springfield  on  the  road  nmniug  west. 
They  were  ascending  the  hOl,  upon  the  summit 
of  which  was  a  thick  wood,  when  Hayward  said: 

"Do  you  see  those  lines  of  infantry  jiist 
within  that  grove.  They  are  rebel  soldiers  ; 
it  is  the  guard  necessary  at  the  execution  of  one 
man !  Branch,  don't  you  fear  that  these  two 
half-fainting  women  will  rescue  me  ?" 

"They  might  do  it — they  ai'e  the  only  ones 
who  can ! "  replied  Branch. 

The  cart  had  passed  the  wood  through  a 
line  of  soldiers  formed  on  either  side,  and 
reaching  the  Fair-Ground,  it  was  driven  ■n-ithin 
the  enclosure,  and  halted  near  the  scaffold. 
Mis  Hay^vard  had  been  hopeful  until  this  mo- 
ment, but  her  feelings  gave  way,  and  throwing 
her  arms  around  her  brother,  she  cried  : 

"Oh!  is  there  no  way  in  which  you  can 
escape  this  terrible  fate  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Branch.     Accept  my  terms." 

"Dog,  still !"  replied  Haj^ward,  his  eyes 
flashing  \s-ith  indignation. 

"Hayward,  I  will  save  you,  if  possible,"  said 
Alibamo.  "Branch,  you  say  you  love  me. 
Release  Captain  Hayward,  and  I  will  become 
your  wife. " 

"Alibamo!"  shrieked  Hayward,  "unsay 
those  words  or  I  ■^•ill  give  you  my  djing  curse ! 
Would  you  kill  your  brother  ?  He  loves  you 
as  dearly  as  I  love  my  sister.  If  I  thought, 
Alibamo,  that  you  would  marry  that  vile 
wretch,  with  these  chains  I  would  dash  your 
brains  out  I " 


"Drag  him  upon  the  scaffold!"  shouted 
Branch. 

"  Farewell,  ilamie — farewell !" 

Hajnivard  clasped  his  sister,  but  was  torn 
from  her,  and  dragged  upon  the  scaffold, 
where  his  chains  were  removed. 

"  She  has  fainted — thank  God!"  said  Hay- 
ward, as  they  placed  the  fatal  noose  about  his 
neck. 

' '  The  Body-guar<^. !     The  Body-guard  >" 

"  What  shouts  are  those  ?"  yelled  Branch. 

At  that  moment  a  horseman  dashed  up,  and 
cried  :  ,    , 

"  The  Body-guard  are  upon  us  !" 

"Quick!"  yelled  Branch.  "String  bin> 
up!"  I 

"No,   I  be   d d  if  you  do,   you    dam 

skunks ! "  cried  Nettleton,  as  he  sprang  from 
among  the  thick  branches  of  the  tree,  after 
having  severed  the  rope. 

"Spring,  cajitain,  for  your  life,"  cried  Net- 
tleton. 

Hayward  sprang  from  the  scaffolding.  At 
that  moment  there  was  an  explosion  just  be- 
neath it,  which  threw  the  masses  in  every  di- 
rection, and  caused  such  a  dense  smoke,  that 
the  soldiers  surrounding  the  scaffold  could  not 
distinguish  the  rescuer,  and  consequently 
could  not  fire. 

' '  Alibamo's  brother  and  the  Indian  were  un- 
der the  scaffold  and  laid  that  plot,  captain," 
said  Nettleton.  But  here  comes  Adjutant  Harry 
Hinton!" 

The  adjutant  dashed  forward,  and  seeing 
the  captain  alive,  he  fairly  yelled  with  delight 
He  embraced  his  friend,  and  then  remounting, 
•cried  : 

' '  But  come,  boys,  we  have  work  to  do, " 
and  off  he  dashed  at  a  rapid  rate. 

"Come,  Nettleton,  I  must  seek  my  sister," 
said  Hay^va^d,  as  he  started  to  the  point  where 
he  had  last  seen  her.  He  met  the  brother  of 
Alibamo,  and  having  been  informed  by  Nettle- 
ton who  he  was,  Haj-ward  inquii-ed  : 

"Where  are  our  sisters?" 

"I  cannot  tell.  Captain  Hayward.  The 
ground  became  deserted  in  a  moment  after  it 
was  known  the  guard  were  coming.  I  suppose 
Fall-leaf,  one  of  our  friends,  has  removed 
them  to  a  place  of  safety,  away  from  the  fight 
They  Mall  be  found  when  the  fate  of  the  battla 
is  decided- 


CHAPTER  Xin. 
Charge  of  the  Body-guard. 

Advance  your  Et.indards,  draw  your  willing  swords. 

For  me,  the  ran.«ora  of  my  bold  attempt 

Shall  be  this  cold  corpse  on  the  earth"?  cold  face  ; 

But  if  I  thrive,  the  gain  of  my  atttii-.pt 

The  least  of  you  shall  share  hU  part  thereof. 

Sound  dmms  and  trumpet?,  boldly  and  cheerfully  ; 

God  and  St.  George,  Richmond  and  victory. — Sluikespectr^ 

The  Union  army,  having  completed  the 
bridge  at  Warsaw,  had  commenced  their 
march  toward  Springfield.  They  had  arrived  at 
a  point  fifty  miles  from  that  place,  when  they 
were  informed  that  a  bodj'  of  rebels  still  occu- 
pied that  town.  The  Body-guard,  under  the 
command  of  the  gallant  Major  Charles  Z»- 
gonji,  were  at  once  sent  forward  to  dispers* 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTn^E  OP  THE  REBEL  CAJVEP. 


37 


the  rebel  band.  It  was  rexjorted  that  their 
number  did  not  exceed  four  or  five  hundred. 
That  of  the  Body-guard  was  one  hundred 
and  sixty. 

On  Thursday  evenin!^  this  enthusiastic 
squadron  of  Union  troops  started  upon  their 
march  of  fil'ty  miles.  Onward  they  rode,  all 
the  long  night.  The  morning  dawned,  and 
they  paused  a  few  moments  to  refresh  them- 
selves and  their  weaned  horses,  which  had 
nobly  borne  their  riders  forward  toward  that 
scene  of  deadly  strife.  WhUe  they  were  re- 
posing, a  horseman  rode  up  and  asked  for  Ad- 
jutant Hinton.  The  adjiitant  sprang  forward 
at  once,  as  he  recognized  in  Johnson,  one  of 
the  partj'  who  had  \'isited  him  at  Warsaw  and 
then  left  in  search  of  Alibamo  and  Captain 
HaJ'^vard. 

"Have  you  any  tidings  of  our  friends?" 
asked  Hinton,  in  an  excited  manner. 

"Yes  ;  they  are  now  at  Springfield.  Captain 
Ha5T\-ard  is  recovering,  and  Ahbamo  is  with 
him.  F:ill-leaf  and  the  brother  of  Alibamo 
are  lurking  near  them,  and  wiU  render  aU  the 
assistance  in  then-  power.  But  I  hope  you' -will 
not  delay  long,  as  a  moment  may  make  a 
world  of  difference." 

Hinton  spoke  a  few  words  in  a  low  tone  to 
the  major,  who  instantly  sprang  into  his  sad- 
dle, and  commanded  an  advance. 

Onward  they  dashed.  They  were  just  turn- 
ing a  sharp  bend  in  the  road,  when  they  came 
suddenly  uiDon  a  small  party  of  mounted  reb- 
els, who  were  robbing  the  house  of  a  Unionist. 
One  of  their  number  discovered  the  approach- 
ing guard,  and  shouted  : 

"  Here  come  the  d -d  Dutch  ! 

The  rebels  sprang  into  their  saddles,  and  an 
exciting  chase  begun.  But  the  horses  of  the 
Body-guard,  worn  and  jaded,  could  not  over- 
take those  of  the  rebels,  which  were  fresh.  The 
prirsuit  was  kept  up,  however,  for  the  next  ten 
miles  when  Springfield  was  reached.  Here 
Zagom-i  commanded  a  halt.  He  was  informed 
that  the  rebels  were  in  line,  and  that  their 
numbers  were  eighteen  h.oulred  iufantiy,  and 
fo  \ir  hundred  cavaiiy.  They  held  their  position 
on  the  hill,  just  ■within  the  edge  of  a  thick 
wood,  about  one  mile  west  of  the  city,  and 
near  the  Fair-Ground. 

'  •  Is  Adjutant  Hinton  hero  ?"  asked  this  in- 
formant. 

"Here,"  replied  Hinton. 

"I  have  a  word  for  you,  from  William  Net- 
tleton !"  He  whispered  a  few  words  to  the  ad- 
jutant, who  started,  looked  at  his  watch,  and 
replied : 

"It  is  half  past  two.  For  God's  sake,  ma- 
jor, let  us  on." 

"Friends,  soldiers!"  said  the  major,  ad- 
dressing those  around  him,  "  we  are  here,  in 
front  of  the  enemy.  Their  numbers  are  suffi- 
ciently great  to  overwhelm  us — sihaost fourteen 
to  one.  But  we,  soldiers,  have  been  taunted 
-^■ith  the  name  oi'  'gold-laced  body-guard,' 
'  feather-bed  soldiers, '  '  kid-gloved  gentry, '  and 
such  like  degrading  epithets.  I  will  not  com- 
mand you  to  face  such  terrible  odds,  but  i'%vish 
to  go,  and  if  you  will  go  ■with  me,  I  •will  lead 
you.  If  any  are  sick,  let  them  remain  behind  ; 
if  any  one  fears,  let  him  also  remain.  Who 
will  go  -^rith  me  ?" 


"  J  shall  go,  if  I  do  so  alone !"  cried  the  ad- 
jutant. 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  the 
shout  went  up  : 

"  We  all  vn\l  go — none  of  us  are  sick  or  worn 
out!" 

"  Then  forward !"  cried  Zagonyi,  as  he  drove 
his  spurs  into  his  horse. 

They  rode  rapidly  along  to  the  west  of  the 
city,  and  came  dashing  down  the  road  which 
passed  the  Fair-Ground.  It  was  the  party  who 
had  been  pursued  by  the  guard,  who  had  rid- 
den up  and  given  the  alarm  just  at  the  fatal 
moment,  and  had  thus  saved  the  life  of  Hay- 
ward,  by  striking  terror  to  the  hearts  of  hi8 
murderous  enemies. 

The  Body-guard  came  thundering  on.  They 
were  compelled  to  charge  through  a  narrow 
lane  or  road,  on  each  side  of  which  there  was 
a  dense  oak  wood.  It  was  an  excellent  posi- 
tion for  the  formation  of  infantry  lines,  as  it 
would  be  impossible  for  cavalry  to  advance 
among  the  trees.  And  besides  this  a  rail  fence 
flanked  this  road  on  either  side,  just  at  the 
edge  of  the  grove.  The  rebel  Iraes  of  infantry 
were  formed  on  each  side  of  this  lane,  about 
ten  feet  back  from  the  fence.  The  trees  af- 
forded them  protection,  and  as  the  guard 
charged  through,  a  murderous  fire  was  poured 
upon  them.  But,  nothing  daunted,  they  dashed 
onward.  Their  purpose  was  to  gain  the  open 
field,  which  decKned  gradually  toward  the 
city,  and  was  situated  east  of  the  road.  In 
this  field  their  principal  lines  of  infantry  and 
cavalrj'  were  formed.  They  had  scarcely  passed 
the  wood  when  another  obstacle  to  their  rapid 
advance  presented  itself.  A  large  wagon  was 
placed  directly  across  their  path.  The  horses 
shied  suddenly  in  passing  this  obstruction,  and 
some  of  their  riders  were  ■violently  thi'own  ; 
but  ■with  an  Extraordinary  effort,  they  succeed- 
ed in  regaining  their  seats.  Finally  a  halt  was 
made,  and  several  of  the  daring  spirits  sprang 
from  their  horses,  and  commenced  the  work  of 
tearing  do^wn  the  fence  in  order  that  the  squad- 
ron might  ride  into  the  open  field,  and  there 
form  for  a  charge  upon  the  rebel  ranks. 

Diu-ing  the  whole  of  this  time,  the  rebels 
were  pox^iring  forth  a  deadly  fire  upon  the  Little 
band,  and  many  of  our  gaUant  guard  had  bit 
the  dust,  while  the  wounded  were  to  be  seen 
on  every  side. 

But,  riding  into  the  open  field,  the  guard 
were  formed  into  line  at  the  base  of  the  hiU, 
near  the  small  stream  which  is  the  head  of 
Wilson's  creek.  On  the  right  of  the  guard, 
and  about  one  himdred  yards  distant,  just  at 
the  edge  of  a  large  corn-field,  were  stationed 
four  himdred  of  the  rebel  cavalry.  At  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  directly  in  front,  and  near  the 
edge  of  the  wood,  was  the  line  of  rebel  infantry, 
numbering  eighteen  hundred,  all  their  availa- 
ble force  ha-ving  been  brought  to  that  point. 

The  eyes  of  Zagonyi  glanced  rapidly  over 
this  scene.  Some  thirty  of  his  bold  guard  had 
ah-eady  been  stricken  do-wn,  either  kiUed  or 
woiinded.  It  was  enough  to  appal  the  stout- 
est heart.  But  the  major  did  not  flinch — his 
followers  were  firm  and  confident. 

"We  can  spare  thirty  men  to  charge  their 
cavalry,"  said  Zagonyi  ;  "lieutenant,  ■will you 
lead  them?" 


S8 


THE  BORDER  SPY  ;  OR  THE 


The  officer  addressed  roplird  . 

"Give  m'^  the  men — thirti/  is  suffickrd  !" 

The  men  \.  -re  soon  detailed,  merely  chang- 
ing front  by  breaking  from  the  right  of  the  line. 

" Forward— trot — gallop!"  The  lieutenant 
had  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  bttle 
band,  and  Anth  drawn  sabres,  antl  a  wild  shout, 
they  rushed  upon  the  foe.  The  rebel  ranks 
were  broken  in  an  instant ;  the  blows  from  the  ' 
terrible  weapons  of  the  guard  fell  not  in  rain. 

"No  further  help  will  be  required  in  that 
quarter,"  shouted  Zagonyi.  "Now  comes 
our  work.  Draw  sabres — forward — gallop — 
charge!" 

A  shout  rang  out  upon  the  air  :  "  For  Fre- 
mont and  the  Union .'"  And  on  they  went  thun- 
dering up  the  hill.  As  they  approached  with- 
in a  few  yards  of  the  rebel  line,  a  terrible  fire 
was  poured  upon  them,  but  they  faltered  not. 
Some  of  the  horses  leaped  wildly  into  the  air, 
and  then  fell  to  earth  dead,  but  their  riders 
pressed  forward. 

The  rebel  ranks  could  not  resist  the  thunder 
of  this  charge.  In  less  than  five  minutes  their 
lines  were  completely  broken,  and  the  terrified 
rebels  were  flying  in  every  direction.  Some 
took  refuge  in  the  woods,  and  fired  from  be- 
hind the  trees,  while  now  and  then  a  squad 
would  for  a  moment  make  a  stand,  but  it  would 
be  quickly  dispersed.  In  half  an  hour,  all 
firing  upon  the  battle-field  had  ceased.  The 
rebels  were  entirely  scattered,  and  were  flying 
for  their  Lives.  Some  had  taken  refuge  in  the 
city,  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  sur- 
rounding buildings. 

Now  commenced  the  charge  tlirough  Spring- 
field.    Up  and  down  the  streets  rode  the  guard, 
charging  upon  all  squads  of  armedrebels,  or 
pursuing  them  to  the  threshold  of  their  own  | 
doors.     Terror  seized  upon  them  all,  and  soon  i 
the  Body-guard  were  masters,  noi?  only  of  the  J 
field,  but  of  the  city  itself.  ! 

Then  commenced  the  task  of  gathering  to- 
gether the  Union  dead  and  wounded.     Seven-  ' 
teen  bodies  were  found  lifeless,  and  removed  \ 
to  the  lower  room  of  the  new  court-house,  \ 
then  used  as  the  Union  hospital,  while  some 
fifty  were  foimd  seriously  or  slightly  wounded,  ■ 
or  annovmced  as  missing.     Thus  ended  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  charges  history  has  ever  re-  | 
corded- 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Conclusion 

I  have  no  words — my  voice  is  in  my  sword. 
Thou  bloodier  villain  th&n  terms  can  give  thee  out. 

Shakespeare. 

After  finding  themselves  so  thoroughly  van- 
quished at  every  hand,  the  panic-stricken 
rebels  fled  in  every  direction,  with  the  utmost 
precipitation.  Their  infantry  fled  into  the 
thick  adjoining  woods,  and  thus  made  their 
way  to  the  wide  spreading  prairie  beyond, 
while  their  cavalry,  taking  advantage  of  a  mo- 
ment when  the  Body-guard  were  most  busily 
engaged  ■with  the  infantry  lines,  sped  across  an 
adjoining  field,  and  were  soon  beyond  the 
reach  of  danger. 

It  was  in  consequence  of  the  general  confu- 


.si(  :i  which  ensued,  that  many  of  the  mOB* 
giiilty  and  cowardly  were  enabled  to  efi'ect 
thtir  escape.  This  was  especially  the  case 
Mith  Branch. 

At  the  moment  of  the  explosion  under  the 
gallows,  he  determined  not  to  fight,  but  to 
efi'ect  his  escape  with  his  \'ictims.  He  urged 
forward  the  frightened  cattle  attached  to  the 
cart  which  contained  Ahbamo  and  the  in- 
animate form  of  Miss  Hay  ward.  He  procetd- 
ed  to  the  western  side  , of  the  enclosure,  ui  d 
teanng  away  the  high  board  fence,  emerged 
into  the  street.  Here  he  beheld  the  battle 
raging  in  the  distance,  but  was  too  far  from 
the  scene  to  anticipate  any  particular  dan- 
ger. He  opened  the  fence  opposite  the 
place  from  that  which  he  had  left  the  Fair- 
Ground,  and,  driving  into  a  thick  wood  beyond, 
soon  struck  a  narrow  path,  just  large  enough 
to  admit  the  passage  of  the  cart.  Now  for  tie 
first  time  he  turned  to  Alibamo,  and  said  : 

"What  think  you  now,  my  fair  one?  Is 
Captain  Branch  foiled  so  easily  ?" 

Alibamo  did  not  replj'.  She  held  the  insen- 
sible form  of  Jliss  Hayward  in  her  arms,  and 
was  striving  in  every  possible  way  to  restore 
her  to  consciousness.     At  length  she  said  : 

"Branch,  will  yon  not  pass  me  some  water 
from  that  stream  ?" 

' '  Will  you  have  it  in  my  cap  ?  It  is  the  only 
thing  in  which  I  can  convey  it  to  you ! "  replied 
Branch. 

"  No !"  answered  Alibamo.  "Let  us  pause 
for  a  moment,  and  you  can  assist  me  in  re- 
moving this  dying  maiden  to  the  side  of  the 
stream.  'Perhaps  the  water,  dripping  cool  and 
fresh  upon  her  forehead  will  bring  her  back  to 
consciousness." 

"I  shall  not  pause,"  replied  Branch,  as  he 
reached  the  maiden  his  cap,  which  he  had 
filled  vrith.  water. 

' '  You  are  a  vile  coward ! "  replied  Alibamo, 

At  this  moment  her  eyes  caught  the  glimpse 
of  something  moving  among  the  thick  brush 
near  her.  Alibamo  gazed  eagerly  forward,  as 
if  endeavoring  to  satisfy  herself,  and  then 
raising  her  voice  so  as  to  be  distinctly  heard 
by  any  person  who  might  happen  to  be  -nithi^ 
several  rods  of  her,  she  said  : 

"  It  is  true  that  you  are  alme,  Branch.  Here 
are  onlj'  two  women  to  oppose  you,  and  one 
of  them  is  entirely  helpless !    And  yet  you  fear ! " 

These  words  were  scarcely  spoken,  when 
there  was  a  rustling  among  the  brush,  and  a 
dark  form  appeared. 

"No,  I  am  nol  alone,"  replied  Branch. 
"Look!" 

At  that  instant  six  of  th«  frightened  horse- 
men, who  were  riding  for  the'r  Jives,  came 
dashing  up,  and,  reaching  the  cart,  they  halted. 
The  dark  form  which  had  so  suddenly  appeared, 
had  as  suddenly  vanished.  It  had  been  dis- 
tinctly seen  by  Alibamo,  although  not  by 
Branch. 

As  the  party  rode  up,  one  of  them  said  : 

""\Miy,  Branch,  what  are  you  doing  with 
these  beauties  ?  And  one  of  them  unconscioiis, 
too." 

' '  Taking  them  to  a  place  of  safety, "  was  the 
crusty  reply. 

"You  had  better  take  them  back  to  Spring- 
field,    The  federals  will  not  harm  females. " 


BEAUTIFUL  CAPTIVE  OF  THE  KEBEL  CAMP. 


"No — no!  that  is  not  my  purpose.  They 
are  relatives  of  Union  officers,  and  I  intend  to 
keep  them  as  hostages  for  the  safety  of  our 
friends. " 

"Where  do  you /purpose  taking  them!" 

"  To  the  dwelliiig  of  Captain  Rogers,  on  the 
edge  of  the  prairie,  just  west  of  the  Wilson's 
creek  battle-ground. 

Another  slight  noise  was  heard  among  the 
underbrush,  and  Alibamo  made  a  significant 
motion  to  some  person,  or  to  some  imaginary 
object,  and  then  all  was  silent. 

Miss  Hayvvard  had  partially  recovered  under 
the  cooling  effects  of  the  water  with  which 
Alibamo  had  been  bathing  her  brow.  She 
opened  her  eyes,  and  then,  with  a  shudder, 
closed  them  again.  At  length  she  said  in  a 
feeble  tone  : 

" O  brother!  press  me  closer  to  your  heajt ; 
I  am  cold — verj'  cold ! " 

"  Miss  Hay  ward,  your  brother  yet  lives,  and 
will  be  with  you  soon!"  whispered  Ahbamo, 
as  she  beuj;  over  the  fast  recovering  maiden. 

"Oh!  yes,  my  brother  must  live — he  does 
live ! "  cried  Mamie,  starting  up. 

""\ATio  is  your  brother?"  asked  one  of  the 
party. 

Siiss  Hayward  gazed  upon  the  questioner, 
but  turning  away,  she  hid  her  face  in  the  bo- 
som of  Alibamo  and  wept. 

"I  will  answer  for  her!"  replied  Alibamo. 
"He  is  an  officer  in  the  Union  army.  He  was 
taken  prisoner  while  endeavoring  to  rescue  me, 
who  also  have  been  kept  as  a  hostage  by  that 
villain.  Branch.  It  was  the  intention  of  Gen. 
Price  to  release  or  exchange  this  young  lady's 
uxutntix,  bui,  ne,  ^L  gradfj'  nio  own  nenci-uke 
propensities,  was  about  to  disobey  the  express 
orders  of  the  general,  and  hang  young  Hay- 
ward.  " 

A  groan  broke  from  Miss  Hayward,  but  Ali- 
bamo quickly  replied : 

' '  Don't  fear,  darhng,  the  Body-guard  came 
just  in  time  to  rescue  him,  and  he  will  soon  be 
with  us !" 

"Are  you  sure  of  that?"  asked  one  of  the 
party. 

' '  I  know  it  will  be  so.  There  will  be  large 
parties  sent  in  every  direction,  and  you  will  be 
siu-ely  overtaken ! "  answered  Alibamo. 

"Let  us  forward,  then,"  repUed  one  of  the 
rebels,  his  cheeks  blenching  with  fear. 

"Stay  one  moment,"  answered  another. 
"Branch,"  he  continued,  "you  have  the  repu- 
tation of  a  bad  man.  I  shaU  not  permit  you 
to  keep  these  ladies,  if  I  can  prevent  it.  Let 
me  accompany  them  back  to  Springfield,  and 
restore  them  to  the  arms  of  their  friends ! " 

"Indeed!"  repHed  Branch  with  bitterness. 
"You  are  very  kind,  and  I  have  no  doubt  the 
ladies  will  thank  j'ou.  But  I  do  not  under- 
stand exactly  how  you  are  going  to  prevent  me 
from  doing  as  I  please.  Pray  be  good  enough 
to  explain." 

"  I  win !  Men,  you  are  enemies  to  the  fed- 
eral soldiers  only,  not  innocent  women.  Seize 
that  cowardly  captain,  and  I  will  return  with 
the  ladies,  and  restore  them  to  their  friends.  It 
will  benefit  all  those  of  our  friends  who — " 

A  ball,  fired  from  the  pistol  of  Branch,  went 
crashing  through  the  brain  of  the  speaker, 
and  he  rolled  from  his  horse  a  corpse. 


' '  You  see  how  far  his  interference  has  bene- 
fited him,"  said  Branch,  pointing  to  the  dead 
body.  ' '  Are  there  any  more  who  wish  to  shara 
his  fate  ?" 

The  party  were  silent.  They  were  now 
ascending  the  sharp  hiU,  or  range  of  hills, 
which  skirts  the  creek  upon  the  north.  Turn- 
ing to  the  right,  he  proceeded  onward,  but 
observing  he  was  not  followed,  he  asked  : 

"  Why  do  you  halt  ?" 

"Because  we  go  in  another  direction." 

"I  command  you  to  follow  me,"  yelled 
Branch. 

"We  do  not  recognize  your  authority." 

"  You  shall  see  it  here,"  replied  the  infuria- 
ted captain,  as  he  drew  forth  his  revolver. 

In  an  instant  the  five  horsemen  had  leveled 
their  rifles  at  his  breast,  and  one  of  them  said  : 

"  Go  your  way,  sir,  and  we  will  not  molest 
you.     Be  careful  how  you  interfere  with  us. " 

"Do  as  you  please,  cowards,"  rephed 
Branch.  He  started  on  his  way,  whUe  the  horse- 
men proceeded  down  the  hiU  at  a  rapid  rate. 

Alibamo  bent  forward,  and  whispered  words 
to  l\Iamie,  which  seemed  to  be  those  of  hope, 
as  the  countenance  of  the  latter  brightened 
very  much.  Then,  starting  to  her  feet,  while 
her  frame  quivered  with  excitement,  she  cried  : 

"  I  knew  it  would  be  so  !  Look  there,  Miss 
Hayward !     Look  there ! " 

"What  do  you  mean  ?"  yeUed  Branch. 

' '  That  you  are  foiled  at  last,  fiend  of  dark- 
ness, that  you  are." 

Let  us  return  to  Springfield. 

The  excitement  endured  by  Hajrward,  to- 
getner  witn  inc  pam  ne  suliered  irom  tne  con- 
stant irritation  of  his  wounds,  and  his  loss  of 
blood,  were  more  than  he  could  bear,  and  he 
sank  to  the  earth,  although  he  stiU  retained 
his  consciousness.  Nettleton  remained  by  his 
side,  although  Hayward  ui-ged  him  to  join  hia 
brothers  in  the  unequal  contest. 

' '  There  ain't  no  occasion  to  do  that ! "  said 
the  brave  feUow.  "Them  Body-guard  will 
whip  them  darn  skunks  in  less  than  three 
minutes,  and  besides  some  on  'em  might  come 
around  you,  and  I  calculate  if  they  do,  to  make 
them  smell  brimstone." 

The  fight  was  over.  Nettleton  and  WiUiam 
Margrave  assisted  Captain  Hayward  to  the  city, 
and  seciu'ed  a  room  for  him  in.  one  of  the 
houses  occupied  by  a  Union  family.  In  a 
short  time  both  Johnson  and  Adjutant  Hinton 
joiued  him.     The  Indian  was  absent. 

"Have  you  received  any  intelligence  of  my 
sister  ?"  asked  Hayward,  in  a  trembUng  voice. 

"Not  yet,  but  Fall-leaf  is  absent,  and  I  feel 
satisfied  that  he  is  with  or  near  both  your 
sister  and  mine, "  replied  Margrave.  ' '  He  will 
return  with  them  very  soon,  I  believe. " 

"  Did  you  see  or  hear  anything  of  Branch?" 
asked  Hayward. 

"After  the  smoke  from  the  explosion  had 
cleared  away,  I  went  in  search  of  the  ladies, 
but  they  had  disappeared.  The  cart  had  been 
removed,  and  my  opinion  is  that  Branch  has 
driven  off  with  our  sisters.  He  cannot  advance 
very  rapidly  with  his  ox-team,  and,  if  Fall- 
leaf  is  on  hi?  track,  he  will  return  and  inform 
us  as  soon  a ;  he  has  ascertained  the  directioa 
they  have  taken." 


iO 


THE  BOEDER  SPY. 


"  Have  the  horses  saddled,  and  at  the  door. 
If  possible  get  fresh  ones, "  said  Haywai-d.  ' '  I 
shall  follow  my  sister. " 

"  You  cannot  do  it,  captain,  you  are  too  iU!" 

"Who  talks  of  being  ill,  at  such  a  time  as 
this  ?  My  sister  is  in  the  hands  of  that  rufl&an 
Branch,  and  yours  too,  ^largrave  !  /  should  go 
forward  if  I  was  dying ! " 

"  At  this  moment  Fall-leaf  rushed  into  the 
room,  and  cried : 

' '  Follow — come ! " 

"Come — no  questions,"  cried  Hayward. 

In  an  instant  Hayward,  Hinton,  Johnson, 
Nettleton,  Margrave,  and  the  Indian,  were  in 
their  saddles,  and  darted  off  at  theii*  utmost 
speed,  on  the  road  toward  the  famous  Wilson's 
creek  battle-ground.    The  Indian  took  the  lead. 

They  ascended  the  shari^  hill  which  borders 
Wilson's  creek,  and  when  on  its  siunmit,  could 
plainly  see  all  the  surrounding  objects  in  the 
valley  below.     After  a  moment's  inspection 
they  turned  to  the  right,  and  struck  off  through  | 
a  naiTow  path  which  ran  along  the  mountain  j 
ridge.     They  had  proceeded  about  two  miles,  j 
when  the  Indian  paused  and  said  :  [ 

'•Hark!"  j 

The  i^arty  listened  attentively,  and  distinctly 
heard  tne  soimd  of  the  rumbling  cart.  [ 

"Quick!    Forward !"  cried  Hayward,  as  he  , 
dashed  onward.    In  a  few  moments  they  came  , 
in  sight  of  the  cart,  and  there,  sure  enough,  | 
were  seated  the  sister  of  Haj'ward  and  the 
maiden,  Alibamo. 

A  ci-y  of  joy  broke  from  the  lips  of  Mar- 
gi'ave.  It  was  heard  by  Branch.  The  villain 
for  a  moment  was  confused,  but  it  was  no 
time  for  delay.  He  seized  Miss  Hayward  in  his 
aims,  and,  springing  from  the  cart,  ran  along 
\rith  her  as  easily  as  if  she  had  been  an  infant. 

Alibamo  sprang  into  her  brother's  arms, 
with  a  cry  of  rapture,  but  he  only  paused  a 
moment.  Branch  ran  dii'ectly  toward  a  nar- 
row pathway,  which  was  the  only  passage  to 
the  Vivlley  below,  and  which  wound  down  the 
steep  by  the  side  of  a  shai-p,  rocky  ledge. 
Beneath  this  ledge  was  a  frightful  chasm,  at 
the  bottom  of  which  were  a  hundred  sharp 
rocks,  which  had  been  broken  off  the  height, 
and  fallen  into  the  depths  below. 

"Ah  !  I  \\-iU  triumph  j-et ! "  cried  Branch,  as 
he  reached  the  ledge,  and  was  about  to  spring 
down  the  uaiTow  pathway.  But,  FaU-leaf  con- 
fronted him,  and  Branch  sjjrang  back. 

"Ah!  the  rock — the  precipice!"  he  cried, 
and  dai-ting  for  the  ledge  he  stood  upon  its 
very  verge. 

As  Haj-ward  and  his  friends  approached, 
Branch  raised  the  helpless  maiden  high  over 
his  head,  and  leaning  forward  he  cried  : 

' '  K  you  advance  another  step,  Hayward,  or 
permit  any  of  your  party  to  do  so,  I  -will  hvul 
your  sister  into  the  dej)ths  below,  and  thus 
dash  her  to  pieces !" 

Haj^vard  was  ■within  a  few  feet  of  Branch, 
but  he  stopped  instantly. 

"What  is  to  be  done?"  asked  Hinton,  as 
he  shuddered  at  the  scene  before  him. 

"I  win  tell  you  what  is  to  be  done,  Hay- 
ward," cried  Branch.  "I  hold  you  in  my 
power,  and  I  shall  dictate  my  o^-n  teims. " 

"■Wiiat  are  they?"  asked  Haywai-d. 


"Let  the  entire  party,  excepting  yourseli^ 
\rithdraw  some  distimce  to  the  rear,  and  then 
swear  by  your  honor  that  I  shall  not  be 
mulesttd,  and  .shall  be  permitted  to  go  as  I 
please,  and  I  will  restore  your  sister.  If  you 
do  not,  she  shall  perish,  even  if  I  go  with  her ! ' 

The  villain,  who  supposed  his  proposition 
would  be  readily  accepted,  had  bein  partially 
thrown  off  his  guard.     With  a  cry  c  f 

"Brother!"  Mamie  .sprang  suddenly  to  the 
ground.  In  doing  so,  she  had  collected  all 
her  strength,  and,  as  she  sprang,  the  concus- 
sion had  thrown  Branch  backward,  and  he 
was  falling  over  the  ledge.  He  caught  a  small 
sapling  in  his  fall,  and  there  the  ■vilL\in  hung, 
suspended  over  this  di-eadful  gulf,  only  by  the 
frail  twig.  He  tinned  upward  an  imidoiing 
glance,  but  did  not  speak,  lie  gazed  below, 
and  a  thiill  of  terror  shook  his  frame. 

"Your  hour  has  come!"  cried  Hayward,  as 
he  approached  the  edge  of  the  cliff. 

"  No !  no !  me — me  ! "  cried  the  Indian,  step- 
ping forward. 

"Oh!  save  me!"  groaned  Branch. 

"Pray,"  said  Hayward,  as  he  saw  the  toma- 
hawk of  the  Indian  raised  high  iii  the  air. 

' '  Save  me — save — "  Branch  spoke  no  more. 

The  tomahawk  had  descended  and  severed 
the  frail  ivd^,  to  which  Branch  was  chnging. 
A  }"ell  of  teiTor  rose  upon  the  air,  as  Branch 
went  whii-Ung  down,  and  then  a  duU,  heavy 
thump  was  heard  and  all  was  still. 

Hayward  pressed  his  lips  upon  his  sister's 
forehead,  and  murmured, 

' '  The  di'eam,  darling — the  dream ! " 

"0  brother,"  she  sobbed,  " I  cannot  speak 
— I  am  so  happy ! " 

Margrave  had  not  been  idle.  He  had  taken 
a  fvill  share  of  embraces,  and  had  handed  Ali- 
bamo over  to  Adjutant  Hinton,  who  appeared 
rather  to  relish  that  luxury,  himseK.  Johnson 
vras  a  silent  spectator,  but  Nettleton  was  dan- 
cing with  pert'ect  ecstacy,  as  he  exclaimed  : 

"Well,  I'm  about  the  happiest  dam  skunk 
that  ever  did  live  ! " 

' '  Fall-leaf,  have  you  nothing  to  say  ?"  asked 
Hayward. 

"Me  kill — ugh!"  he  pointed  toward  the 
rocks  below,  and  seemed  perfectly  satisfied. 
■Bad  man — much  bad!"  and  he  strode  away 
up  the  path. 

Night  was  fast  approaching,  and  the  happily 
united  friends  set  out  for  Springfield,  which 
they  reached  in  safety. 

Captain  Hayv»-ard  recovered  from  his  v/otmds, 
and  is  still  engaged  in  fighting  his  country's 
battles,  while  his  lovely  sister  is  happy  in  her 
home  upon  the  lake. 

Adjutant  Hinton  is  in  the  same  regiment 
■R-ith  Haywai'd,  v.hile  Alibamo — not  Alibamo 
:Mai-grave,  but  Alibamo  Ubiion,  is  adorning 
her  husband's  elegant  home  in  New  York, 
where  she  is  its  light  and  joy.  She  only  awaits 
the  return  of  Harry  to  render  her  perfectly 
happy. 

Nettleton  thinks  he  is  becoming  less  of  a 
"skunk"  everj'  day,  but  stiU  insists  on  remain- 
ing with  Haywood,  as  his  "  bodi'-guard, " 
Fall-leaf  stiU  serves  the  army. 

AU   KETOBR, 


AMERICAN   TALES. 

^^ 

Large  Suo.,  double  columns,  lUnminated  cover,  each  issue  complete  f 

A  series  of  original  and  choice  Romancks  of  the  War  axd  of  the  Border,  prepared  by  the 
best  antliors  and  supplied  at  the  very  low  price  of  FIFTF;EN  CENTS  K.Vf 'H. 


?^o.    9,    REA13Y    JXJI^Y    ISth. 

THE  PRISONER  OF  THE  MILL ; 

CAPTAIN  HAYWARD'S   "BODY   GUARD." 

By  the  Author  of 'The  Border  Spy." 

Tlie  antlior  has  hero  given  us  a  story  of  tlie  Gasconade  country,  full  of  all  tliat  Is  novel  In  war, 
exciting  in  adventure  and  stirring  in  love.  It  revives  several  of  the  best  characters  first  introduced 
In  his  "  Border  Spy.'  Tlie  work  is  very  pleasing  and'thoroughly  good  as  a  transcript  of  the  field  in 
the  West. 

No.  1.— ON  THE  PLAINS:  or,  The  Race  for  Life.  A  story  of  adventure  among  the  Black  Hills. 
This  romance  reads  like  a  transcrijit  from  life.  It  is  exciting  in  its  incidents  of  hunters' ami 
trappers"  experience,  of  Indian  life  and  M'arfare,  and  of  love,  for  there  is  a  woman  in  the  case, 
around  whom  centers  a  novel  interest.    It  is  one  of  the  best  border  stories  recently  prwluced. 

No.  2.— THE  BORDER  SPY;  or,  the  Beautiful  Captive  of  the  Rebel  Camp.  A  story  of  the  War. 
By  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hazeltine,  formerly  (  aptain  Co.  A.,  Kremonts  CJuard.  The  title  of  this  book 
implies  its  character.  It  is  a  stirring  story  of  the  war  in  the  Osage  country,  in  which  the  author 
has  introduced  the  rebel  General  Price,  and  other  celebrated  characters, as  well  a.s  a  Delaware  In- 
dian, who  plays  a  leading  part. 

No.  3.-THE  HERMIT  OF  THE  COLORADO  HILLS :  A  Romance  of  the  Pampas.  By  Wm.  TI.  Bush- 
nell.  A  peculiar  but  striking  story  of  the  Texan  Pampas,  introducing  the  wild  life  of  the  Plains, 
the  great  cattle  droves  of  the  herdsmen,  the  savage  Comanche  Indians,  and  the  strange  being,  the 
Hermit  of  the  Hills— a  character  not  altogether  fictitious.  There  is  also  in  the  story,  as  a  leading 
feature,  the  element  of  female  interest.  Theromanceis  oneofits  popular  author's  best  productions. 

No.  4.-FREE  TRAPPERS'  PASS;  or,  the  Gold-Seeker's  Daughter,  ^y  Wm.  R.  Eyster.  An  ex- 
citing romance,  full  of  the  interest  of  western  adventure,  and  so  forcibly  written  that  the  reader's 
Interest  can  not  flag  a  moment  through  all  the  incidents  of  capture,  flight,  pursuit  and  peril. 

No.  5,-BOB  BRANT,  PATRIOT  AND  SPY :  A  Tale  of  the  War  in  the  West.  By  Edward  Willett, 
This  exciting  tale  of  scouting  life  in  the  West  is  full  of  .action,  presenting  scenes  which  will  be 
recognized  by  many  who  have  served  in  the  glorious  army  of  General  Grant;  some  of  the  char- 
acters, also,  are  well  known  in  connection  with  the  secret  service  of  the  aruiy  of  the  Cumberland. 
The  dangers  and  escapes  of  Bob  Brant,  during  the  exciting  period  previous  to  the  fall  of  Forts  Henry 
and  Donelson,  are  thrilling,  but  natural  and  life-like. 

No.  6.-THE  GUERRILLAS  OF  THE  OSAGE  ;  or  the  Price  of  Loyalty  on  the  Border.  By  Stephen 
Holmes,  Jr.  The  terrors  of  life  on  the  border  during  the  first  year  of  the  Great  Rebelli<m  are  vividly 
delineated  in  this  exciting  story.  It  introduces  us  to  the  Missouri  "jayhawkers,"  "bushwhackers,"' 
or  "guerrillas,"  as  they  are  variously  termed-meu  who  have  rendered  their  names  synonymous  with 
deeds  of  cruelty  and  crime.  The  Price  of  Loyalty  is  illustrated  in  the  fortunes  of  a  Unionist  and  his 
lovely  wife,  whose  portraiture  produces  a  powerful  impression  on  the  reader's  mind. 

No.  7,-OLD  BILL  WOODWORTH :  Scout  of  the  Cumberland.  By  the  Author  of  "Bob  Brant." 
One  of  the  most  popular  books  of  the  day  is  Mr.  Willctt's  "  Bob  Brant,  Patriot  and  Spy."  This 
second  work  from  his  pen,  resuming  the  char.icter  of  the  Old  Scout  of  the  Cumberland,  makes  him 
the  leading  actor  of  one  of  the  most  exciting  and  exhilarating  romances  of  the  war  yet  produced. 
AVliile  it  is  exceedingly  enjoyable  as  a  story,  it  is  also  perfect  as  a  picture  of  life  and  experience  in 
Southern  Tennessee. 

No.  8.-THE  ORONOCO  CHIEF ;  or,  the  Fortunes  of  a  Diamond  Locket.  A  story  of  the  times  of 
Bolivar.  By  J.  Thomas  Warren.  This  fine  production  has  in  it  enough  of  adventure,  war,  love  and 
side  drama  to  satisfy  the  most  eager  seeker  after  novelties.  Yet,  it  is  so  perfectly  life-like,  that  It 
is,  after  all,  seemingly  but  a  series  of  exciting  adventures,  in  which  Bolivars  men  play  a  credit- 
able pai't.    It  is  a  charming  story,  charmingly  told. 

Bold  by  all  Newsdealers ;  or,  sent,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price,  FIFTEEN  CENTS. 

THE  AMERICAN  NEWS  CO.,  PuMishers'  Agents, 

191  NASSAU  STREET,  N.  T. 


